Camp Pendleton Blaze
Camp Pendleton Wildfire Prompts Evacuations, Reaches 560 Acres Before 50% Containment
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Key Points
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The blaze was dubbed the “November Fire” because the initial response came from Camp Pendleton Fire Department near the base’s “November Training Area.”
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Cal Fire’s containment updates were specific: as of 3:54 p.m. PST the fire was 0% contained, and by 10:30 p.m. it was 50% contained and “no longer growing,” after which Cal Fire “sent home” all resources Wednesday night.
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Evacuations weren’t limited to neighborhoods—officials also ordered evacuations that included the Oceanside Municipal Golf Course and the San Diego Humane Society in Oceanside (later lifted).
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Cal Fire initially overestimated the size at 800 acres before later aerial mapping revised it to about 560 acres. During the incident, Cal Fire also warned: “With active fire behavior and spot fires, there are threats to critical infrastructure and evacuations have been issued.”
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Smoke impacts were described in detail beyond “nearby communities”: it drifted over the Santa Ana Mountains and into parts of San Diego, Orange, and Riverside counties, with the haze visible in places such as Fallbrook, Temecula, and Wildomar.
A fast-moving brush fire broke out at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Southern California on Wednesday morning, scorching 560 acres and forcing evacuations before firefighters gained control by nightfall. The blaze, named the "November Fire" after the base's November Training Area where it started, went from zero to 560 acres in just a few hours — with Cal Fire initially overestimating its size at 800 acres before aerial mapping corrected the figure, according to Cal Fire.
By 10:30 p.m., the fire was 50% contained and "no longer growing," Fox Weather reported. Cal Fire sent all resources home Wednesday night. No structures were destroyed and no injuries were reported.
From 75 Acres to 560 in Under Four Hours
The fire was first reported at 10:01 a.m. near Shadow Tree Drive and Rivertree Road on the southern part of the base, according to Yahoo News. By 11 a.m. it had reached 75 acres and was threatening base structures near Wire Mountain Housing. By 12:30 p.m. it had doubled to 150 acres. Cal Fire dispatched ground crews and C-130 air tankers to drop fire retardant alongside the Camp Pendleton Fire Department.
At 1:12 p.m., Cal Fire warned: "With active fire behavior and spot fires, there are threats to critical infrastructure and evacuations have been issued." Containment sat at 0% as late as 3:54 p.m. By 3:30 p.m., however, crews had stopped the fire's forward spread. All evacuation orders were lifted by 5 p.m.
Golf Course and Humane Society Among Evacuated Sites
Evacuation orders were not limited to residential areas. Officials ordered evacuations of the Oceanside Municipal Golf Course and the San Diego Humane Society's Oceanside campus, among other locations. Four specific zones in Oceanside — SDC-0317, SDC-0372, SDC-0427, and SDC-0429 — were placed under warning, according to Fox Weather.
All orders and warnings were lifted by 5 p.m. as crews gained the upper hand. Rep. Mike Levin called on the community to thank first responders, saying: "To the firefighters and first responders on the ground, I join a very grateful community in thanking you for all that you do to keep us safe."
Smoke Blankets Three Counties Across Southern California
Smoke from the fire drifted over the Santa Ana Mountains and into parts of San Diego, Orange, and Riverside counties. The haze was visible as far inland as Temecula, Fallbrook, and Wildomar, Yahoo News reported. Skies turned gray across a wide swath of the region during the afternoon hours.
The smoke prompted air quality advisories for the affected counties. While no formal health emergency was declared, residents in inland communities were advised to limit time outdoors during peak smoke hours.
Marines Investigate as Fire-Prone Base Has Long History of Blazes
Because the fire started in a military training area, the Marine Corps holds sole jurisdiction over the investigation. The cause has not yet been determined, according to Yahoo News. Camp Pendleton burns roughly 1,500 acres per year on average, making it one of the most fire-prone military bases in the United States.
The base maintains 165 miles of strategic fire breaks using heavy equipment each year between May and August. That infrastructure is widely credited with keeping the November Fire from spreading into the nearby Wire Mountain Housing area and surrounding Oceanside neighborhoods.
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