Firefighters have made significant progress in putting out three brush fires that have blackened nearly 22,000 acres on Camp Pendleton, base officials said Sunday.
By Saturday evening, all evacuation orders had been lifted by the commanding general at Camp Pendleton, according to the Camp Pendleton Scout Facebook page. Officials said orders for personnel to return to their assigned areas would be at the discretion of area commanders.
The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos, arrived at noon Sunday, and gave his personal thanks and congratulations to Marines from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and 1st Marine Logistics Group for their efforts during firefighting operations.
3rd MAW aircraft dropped more than 540,000 gallons of water to assist with the firefighting efforts around San Diego County since Wednesday.
General Amos and Brig. Gen. John W. Bullard, the Marine Corps Installations West commanding general, were briefed on the three major fires on base known as the Basilone Complex.
SAN MATEO FIRE
The San Mateo fire that started Friday morning had burned 1,500 acres and was 97 percent contained by Sunday evening, base officials said.
LAS PULGAS FIRE
The Las Pulgas fire, reported at 3:15 p.m. Thursday, was at 15,000 acres and 75 percent contained by Sunday evening.
TOMAHAWK FIRE
The Tomahawk fire, which started Wednesday on Naval Weapons Station Fallbrook, had scorched 5,400 acres and was 100 percent contained by Sunday evening. Earlier, base officials had pegged the acreage burned at 6,500 acres but downgraded it Sunday.
The base's Las Pulgas and Cristianitos Gates are open, and as of Sunday late afternoon, Las Pulgas Road is also open in both directions.
Normal operations are slated to resume Monday, and all scheduled service members and civilians are instructed to return to work.
All roads are open and all gates have resumed normal operating hours.
Ammunition Road on Naval Weapons Station Fallbrook will remain closed throughout the weekend but is scheduled to open for regular traffic at 12:01 a.m. Monday.
All Child Development Centers on base will be open on Monday.
For school closures, parents are advised to contact their child’s school for specific information.
The cause of the three fires is under investigation.
