November Fire Evacuations Lifted — But Camp Pendleton Isn’t Clear Yet
The good news first. The November Fire that sent smoke billowing over Oceanside, Bonsall and Fallbrook and prompted golf course evacuations and neighborhood warnings has been brought under significant control.
All evacuations for the November Fire have been lifted, with the forward rate of spread stopped and CAL FIRE resources released, following confirmed 50% containment of the blaze at 560 acres.
No injuries or structure damage were reported from the November Fire, which started near Shadow Tree Drive at Rivertree Road around 10 a.m. on June 10, burned 560 acres, and required a temporary evacuation point to be established at El Camino High School at 400 Rancho Del Oro Drive.
Evacuations lifted. No injuries. No structures lost. That’s the best possible outcome from a fire that at its peak was throwing spot fires and pushing actively toward the Oceanside city boundary.
How the November Fire Unfolded — Day by Day
The progression of the November Fire tells the story of what CAL FIRE, Camp Pendleton Fire Department and Oceanside Fire did right.
Forward progress was stopped at 3:32 p.m. on the day the fire started, with firefighters remaining on scene overnight and into the following morning to continue working the fire, and 1st Lt. Natalia K. Rhodes confirming there were no residential evacuation orders for Camp Pendleton and no safety threat to personnel aboard the installation.
Several neighborhoods on the border of Camp Pendleton were under evacuation warnings according to Genasys Protect, with those warnings lifted late Wednesday, and smoke also reported as far as Temecula — the City of Temecula advising the fire was in the direct path of ocean wind to their community.
Smoke reaching Temecula from a fire in Oceanside. That’s how big the plume was.
The Second Fire: 1,183-Acre San Mateo Creek Blaze Still Active
Here’s where the update gets more complicated. While the November Fire is winding down, a separate and larger wildfire has been burning in a different part of Camp Pendleton’s vast territory.
A wildfire grew to 1,183 acres after spreading over difficult canyon terrain in heavy fuels and dense vegetation since igniting near San Mateo Creek, eventually burning its way into the federally protected lands of the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness, with fire officials stating their focus for the rest of the day and into the night would be to continue creating and managing containment lines with full suppression attack on the fire itself, always with a focus on firefighter safety.
Canyon terrain. Heavy fuels. Dense vegetation. Federal wilderness. These are four things that make firefighting exponentially harder and more dangerous. The San Mateo Creek fire is not the same situation as the November Fire — it’s operating in country that doesn’t allow the kind of equipment access that made containing the November Fire relatively manageable.
Smoke Advisory Still Affecting Multiple Communities
Even with the November Fire’s evacuations lifted, air quality concerns haven’t disappeared.
The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District issued a smoke advisory for Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Bonsall and Fallbrook, warning that in areas of heavy smoke, air quality levels may be unhealthy for sensitive groups and recommending that affected community residents stay indoors.
Residents in Oceanside, Bonsall and Fallbrook should continue monitoring air quality even as the November Fire’s direct threat subsides. The San Mateo Creek fire is still burning and smoke conditions can change quickly.
What to Watch For in the Coming Days
Two separate fire investigations are now underway. The November Fire’s cause remains unknown. The San Mateo Creek ignition is also described as unknown. With the Fourth of July holiday weekend and high fire danger conditions persisting across Southern California, Camp Pendleton’s fire management teams are not standing down.
Residents and commuters near the base should:
- Monitor Camp Pendleton’s official Facebook page for real-time base access and evacuation updates
- Check the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District for ongoing smoke advisories
- Download the Genasys Protect app for zone-specific evacuation alerts
- Avoid recreational areas near the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness until the fire is contained
- Call 911 immediately if new smoke is spotted near residential areas adjacent to the base
Conclusion
The November Fire at Camp Pendleton is contained and all evacuations have been lifted — a genuine success for the multi-agency response that stopped 560 acres from becoming something far worse. But the 1,183-acre San Mateo Creek fire burning through federal wilderness terrain is still active, still in difficult country, and still demanding serious suppression effort from crews who have already had a hard month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Have all Camp Pendleton fire evacuations been lifted? Yes — all evacuations for the November Fire have been lifted following 50% containment.
Q2: Is there still an active fire at Camp Pendleton? Yes — the 1,183-acre San Mateo Creek fire is still burning through canyon terrain into federal wilderness lands.
Q3: Were any homes or structures lost in the November Fire? No — no injuries or structure damage were reported from the November Fire.
Q4: What communities were affected by Camp Pendleton fire smoke? Oceanside, Bonsall, Fallbrook and Temecula all experienced smoke impact from the November Fire.
Q5: Where can I get live Camp Pendleton fire updates? Monitor Camp Pendleton’s official Facebook page, CAL FIRE’s incident page, and the Genasys Protect app for real-time updates.
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