Brush fire scorches open terrain at Camp Pendleton

CAMP PENDLETON – A wildfire spread over dozens of open acres today (May 4) in a training zone on the grounds of Camp Pendleton, authorities reported.

The blaze erupted in the late morning, said Capt. Luke Weaver, a spokesman for the northern San Diego County Marine Corps installation.

As of late afternoon, the flames had blackened roughly 50 acres in an area "basically at the center of the base,'' Weaver said.

It was unclear what sparked the blaze, which was posing no structural threats, the captain said.

According to North County Fire, the fire on Camp Pendleton is in the Basilone/San Mateo area – currently at 50 acres. Drift smoke is visible in the Fallbrook area, but the fire does not pose a threat to the district.