Brush Fire Rages at Camp Pendleton

A fast-moving fire at Camp Pendleton has burned more than 3,000 acres and was 80-percent surrounded as of Wednesday night.

The fire was sparked during a training exercise at about 9:30 a.m. in the Aliso Canyon area toward the center of the base. The blaze is about 10 miles from the border Oceanside shares with Camp Pendleton. Lance Cpl. Michael Atchue said the fire had charred 500 acres by 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Atchue said that three firefighting helicopters from local jurisdictions were helping to fight the fire, as were ground crews from Pendleton and the U.S. Forest Service. He stressed that no local communities were threatened by the fire.

A very large plume of smoke created by the fire is visible, with onshore winds pushing the clouds to the west. Thick smoke from the fire was reported as far south as Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad.

No structures were threatened by the fire, according to Marine officials.

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