Heavy Smoke Over Temecula Valley Coming From Camp Pendleton Fire

SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A fire burning Monday at Camp Pendleton was sending heavy smoke across Southwest Riverside County, but it's not the only blaze in the area.

Residents in the Temecula, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore area were smelling and seeing drift smoke from the Pendleton blaze, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department confirmed.

The blaze began at 3:20 p.m. and burned on Range 407, said base spokesperson Sgt. Stephanie Cervantes.

"The fire was training-related and situated deep within the impact area," according to Cervantes. "We want to assure you that these fires pose no threat to personnel or nearby structures.

"Due to the hazardous conditions, it has not been possible to measure the acreage of the fires at this time," Cervantes continued. "Safety remains our top priority, and we are continuously monitoring the situation."

It's not the only fire in the area.

A brush fire that erupted Monday north of Moreno Valley burned roughly four acres before it was stopped.

The non-injury blaze was reported about 1:50 p.m. in the 7800 block of Reche Canyon Road, south of Center Street, near the boundary separating Riverside and San Bernardino counties, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department. Read more here.

Additionally, a controlled burn to eliminate 2,500 acres of overgrowth in the San Bernardino National Forest near Anza got underway Monday, with plans for a continuation of operations over the next week or so.

The burn is focused around 6,825-foot Thomas Mountain, south of Lake Hemet and just west of Highway 74, according to the forest service. Read more here.