Firefighters on Monday were gaining ground and containing a Camp Pendleton, Calif., wildfire that’s burned through several square miles of brush and forced residents of the Marine Corps base and nearby communities to flee.
Emergency responders estimated that the fire was about 20 percent contained and that it would be another 24 hours before residents could return safely, The Associated Press reported.
The blaze broke out during the weekend in the coastal community during a hot, dry spell marked by windy conditions. At least 230 residents of one housing community by Lake O’Neill evacuated. Another 30 Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton patients were evacuated, too, after a power outage.
Hundreds of firefighters were still battling the blaze on Monday. Investigators were still trying to determine the initial cause of the fire.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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