Fast-moving brush fire burns hundreds of acres at Camp Pendleton, closes part of Interstate 5

A fast-moving brush fire blackened hundreds of acres at Camp Pendleton Thursday, threatening structures and prompting evacuations on the U.S. Marine Corps base.

The blaze, dubbed the Henderson Fire, erupted shortly before 2 p.m. in the western reaches of the base, close to the intersection of Basilone and Las Pulgas roads, authorities reported.

Just after 5 p.m., the flames had become enough of a potential threat to motorists on the evening commute that authorities briefly closed Interstate 5 in both directions, from Harbor Drive in Oceanside north to Basilone. 

Within an hour, the California Highway Patrol was re-opening the busy stretch of I-5, but also warned that “the highway may be closed again immediately if conditions require.”

Pushed by winds out of the east, the fire burned more than 1,400 acres, but firefighters had slowed its progress considerably by 8 p.m.

More than 1,100 acres of those acres went up within the first two hours of the Henderson Fire, according to Cal Fire, when flames was moving dangerously close to populated areas of the base, along with power lines.

It was at 0% containment as of late Thursday.

An evacuation order was issued for the Las Flores, or 41 Area, of the base, but it had been lifted by 7:30 p.m. There were no evacuations outside of the base.

Ground crews and personnel aboard firefighting aircraft worked to halt the spread of the fire. while the CHP and other agencies shut down several roads. 

Along with I-5, Las Pulgas between Brown Street and Stuart Mesa Road were closed, as was the Las Pulgas Gate to the base. Only emergency vehicles were allowed access to those roadways.

The cause of the fire, which had grown to roughly 400 acres within 90 minutes, is under investigation. There were no reports of structural damage or injuries.

The Henderson Fire exceeded initial estimates, which predicted the flames would consume 1,000 acres.

Updated 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15, 2026