A brush fire that began burning Saturday on the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base in San Diego County has now scorched at least 2,236 acres, according to base officials.
The large fire, dubbed the “DeLuz Fire” by Cal Fire officials, was first reported around 12:45 p.m. Saturday near the DeLuz training area and Lake O’Neil. The fire sparked in the middle of a red flag warning and dangerous fire conditions that plagued the county all weekend long.
As of Tuesday morning, Camp Pendleton officials said the brush fire was 83 percent surrounded.
At this point, officials said there is “minimal fire movement” and crews expect to have the fire fully contained by 6 p.m. Tuesday. Officials said loss from the fire, so far, is limited to several vehicles and outbuildings.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but base officials say the blaze did not start in a training area where they shoot artillery.
On Saturday, the fire prompted the evacuation of Camp Pendleton’s O’Neill Heights housing units to the Semper Fit Paige Fieldhouse, according to the base Public Affairs Office. People were allowed to return to their homes Sunday night.
In all, 330 residents were evacuated from base housing, according to officials.
While evacuees headed to the Paige Fieldhouse, their pets could be dropped off, free of charge, at the Bark Avenue Resort and Kamp at 655 Benet Rd. in Oceanside.
Officials said residents should be aware that the fire is still ongoing, so emergency vehicles will remain in the area. Officials also said that if O’Neill Heights residents discover any type of property damage to their units as a result of the fire, they should report it to their housing manager.
On Saturday, base officials said the blaze was moving north along the Santa Margarita River. Heavy smoke from the fire was visible throughout the North County.
Throughout Saturday evening, more than 200 firefighters from Camp Pendleton and Mutual Aid crews battled the blaze.
Officials said the Southern California Interagency Team 1 took command of the fire Sunday afternoon. The team was able to conduct more observations of the fire and report a more accurate mapping of the acreage, which stood at 2,236 acres as of Monday evening.
At one point, base officials said there are 339 firefighters from multiple agencies battling the fire, including crews from the U.S. Forest Service, Camp Pendleton and local, county and state fire departments.
Base officials said that as containment increases, response personnel will be demobilized.
Besides the day-long evacuation of the O’Neill Heights housing units, the DeLuz Fire also forced 30 patient evacuations at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton on Saturday. Patients from the Naval Hospital were evacuated to Tri-City Hospital and Naval Medical Center San Diego.
By Sunday, patients returned to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, and the hospital was fully operating, officials confirmed.
Though several buildings sustained minor damage in the fire, there have been no reports of any injuries.