CAMP PENDLETON NORTH, Calif. — As of June 11, 11:50 a.m., the #SierraFire is now in patrol status, according to fire officials. For the latest updates, click here.
A wildfire blackened swaths of brushy land on the grounds of Camp Pendleton Wednesday, sending clouds of dark smoke over northern San Diego County and prompting evacuations of some facilities on the military base.
The blaze dubbed the Sierra Fire began spreading out of control toward the eastern side of the Marine Corps installation about 2:30 p.m., fire officials said.
Around 5:20 a.m. Thursday, the burn zone had grown to about 1,000 acres and was 20% contained, the public-affairs office reported.
"Visible flames are in burnt areas and pose no threat," base officials reported.
All evacuation orders were lifted by 8 p.m. Wednesday, and no roads were closed on the base.
Road closures were reported in the area but the base said all gates were still open. Authorities cleared people out of various areas on the installation, including Lake O'Neill Campground, as a precaution.
Fire crews had been setting and monitoring brush-clearing controlled burns on the base this week, but it was not immediately clear if that activity was related to the wildfire.
