Fire Sparks Fear Near Camp Pendleton

Cause of blaze being investigated

Firefighters battled two wildfires at Camp Pendleton Wednesday afternoon, NBC 7/39 reported.

A large, dark plume of smoke could be seen across North County due to the blaze.  Newschopper 7/39 flew over the blaze which broke out about 3:35 p.m. Wednesday.  Officials said the flames started burning on Range 401.  The fire had burned 100 acres around 5:30 p.m.

Military officials said they evacuated a nearby golf course as a precaution.

Marine Lt. Tom Garnett said it is not known what caused the fire that is burning in an open area on a training range in the southwestern corner of the base. No buildings or other structures are threatened and there have been no injuries reported.

Winds were blowing at the height of the fire at about 8 mph, according to an NBC 7/39 report.

Sgt. Kelan Poorman of the Oceanside Police Department told NBC 7/39 the fire is about 1 mile from the Oceanside City limits, but no evacuation orders are in place. Two strike teams from the Oceanside Fire Department are assisting Camp Pendleton firefighters.

People in the same neighborhood were evacuated last year during the 2007 firestorm.

"We actually just left Target and we thought, 'Oh my gosh, not another fire,'" said a neighbor.

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