Brush fire at Camp Pendleton 20% contained, with Interstate 5 again open in area

Crews gained ground Friday on a fire burning in the western reaches of Camp Pendleton, after the blaze neared Interstate 5, causing lengthy delays for commuters.

Firefighters strove for a second day to corral the brush fire that by midday had blackened 2,080 acres on the grounds of the Marine Corps base. By the early evening, they had made progress, declaring the fire 20% contained.

Earlier, Henderson Fire prompted more closures along I-5, where “active flames” could be seen on both sides of the freeway.

“The fire remains active and continues to spread, with fire crossing containment lines on the northwest side,” Cal Fire, the state firefighting agency, said as crews struggled to keep up with the flames. “Air and ground resources remain engaged in suppression efforts, with additional resources en route.”

The I-5 closures, according to Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol, included Harbor Drive and Vandergrift Boulevard in Oceanside.

“Santa Ana winds are pushing the fire westward,” the CHP’s Oceanside station posted on social media. “Heavy smoke and reduced visibility are possible.”

Amid the Friday evening commute, the CHP announced that they had re-opened I-5 north, but that southbound lanes temporarily remained closed between Basilone and Vandergrift.

By 5:15 p.m., all lanes in the area had been re-opened.

The CHP also said that the fire north of Las Pulgas “is mostly out” with Caltrans and Cal Fire crews cleaning flame retardant from the roadway to prevent vehicle hazards.

I-5 had been fully closed in both directions between Vandergrift and Basilone since the early afternoon when the CHP advised that “smoke is affecting visibility along both sides of the freeway.”

Caltrans urged travelers heading north to use state Route 78 to Interstate 15.

New fire

🚨 TRAFFIC ALERT | HENDERSON FIRE 🚨 🔥 As of 1:25 PM, I-5 remains FULLY CLOSED in both directions between Vandergrift Blvd. and Basilone Rd. due to active flames on both sides of the freeway. ⚠️ Avoid the area, expect significant delays, and use alternate routes. https://t.co/DvZW9j1Uzq

— CHP Oceanside Area (@CHP_Oceanside) October 16, 2026

The Camp Pendleton Fire Department, not Cal Fire, has jurisdiction over the Henderson Fire. The flames on base, according to a Cal Fire map, are burning roughly along Las Pulgas Canyon Road, from C Street on the east southwest to Stuart Mesa Road approaching El Camino Real.

In addition, another vegetation fire broke out Friday along southbound I-5, south of the checkpoint near San Onofre. Crews assigned to the Henderson Fire are working to contain that blaze, which has consumed 20 acres, with more help on the way.

The Henderson Fire erupted around 2:35 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of Basilone and Las Pulgas roads and swept close to populated areas of the military base, according to Cal Fire, prompting on-base evacuations and a brief rush-hour closure of a stretch of I-5.

Authorities shut down the freeway between Basilone and Harbor Drive in Oceanside. Video posted on a Cal Fire incident page showed heavy flames burning to within feet of the edge of the traffic lanes beneath utility poles.

Shortly before 6 p.m., the CHP said that it was reopening I-5, though officials cautioned that the lane might have to be closed again due to the blaze.

The wildfire also forced a closure of Las Pulgas on the grounds of Camp Pendleton between Brown Street and Stuart Mesa. Additionally, the Las Pulgas Gate to the base was shut down to all traffic except emergency vehicles.

Paige Field House on 13th Street at Camp Pendleton is operating as a shelter for those displaced on base. There have been no evacuations in surrounding communities.

The cause of the Henderson Fire, which had been mapped at 1,404 acres as of Thursday evening, was under investigation, Cal Fire reported.

Adding to the I-5 woes, another fire burning just outside San Diego County, in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, already has destroyed homes, based on footage from multiple media outlets showing structures ablaze.

Within three hours, the fire had spread over 465 acres, according to Cal Fire, prompting evacuations in multiple neighborhoods, with two centers open to help residents. Officials said that four homes in San Juan Capistrano, had been “impacted” by the blaze, dubbed the Norte Fire.

Updated 6:55 p.m. Oct. 16, 2026