Firefighters are working to contain a more than 100-acre wildfire on the Camp Pendleton Marine base in northern San Diego County.
The brush fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday on Camp Pendleton near a paintball field in the area of Vandegrift Boulevard and 17th Street. The fire started along the hillside across from the Ranch House, according to base officials.
The blaze, which is 50 percent surrounded, forced the brief evacuation of two offices at the base shortly after it broke out and closed some major roads. No structures were damaged.
Firefighters say controlling the fire was difficult.
“Being June, it’s real unusual the fires are burning like they are,” Camp Pendleton Fire Dept. spokesperson Captain Jeff Young said.
Base Fire Inspector Bill Gick told the North County Times that the cause of the fire was unknown, but that no Marines were training in the area where the fire started.
This is the beginning of what Captain Young says will be a tough fire season.
“With the fuels being so dry, the fire burns erratic and spot fires are pretty typical. It’s harder and harder to fight them and come September, October it's going to be really difficult.”
Firefighters stayed on base all night, looking for hotspots and mopping up. Another crew was scheduled to relieve them in the morning. Full containment is expected at noon.
