When Fire Breaks Out On Camp Pendleton, How Close Is It To SW RivCo?

SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Smoke drifted over Southwest Riverside County on Thursday due to a brush fire burning on Marines Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Local longtime residents know that when blazes break out on the base, regular afternoon Pacific Ocean wind commonly sends smoke to Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar and the rest of the region.

Base officials advised residents there was no danger to local cities. A Friday morning update on the non-injury fire was pending but smoke was still lingering.

Thursday's blaze was burning in the Zulu Impact Area of the base. But where is that and how close is it to Temecula, Murrieta and other Southwest Riverside County cities?

Camp Pendleton encompasses more than 125,000 acres and 17 miles of coastline. On its northeast boundary, the base abuts the Cleveland National Forest in Riverside County — an area just west of Southwest Riverside County.

The below map shows the base's various areas, including the Zulu area where the blaze was reported. As the crow flies, the area is less than 20 miles from Temecula. Most of the fires that erupt on Camp Pendleton are reported in the Zulu and Whiskey impact areas. Live fire training is a regular occurrence in these areas.

Blazes on the base can be unsettling in Southwest Riverside County. A vegetation fire on Camp Pendleton burned 657 acres about a year ago. The brusher sent plumes of smoke across Southern California but was finally contained May 10, 2022. It did not threaten any personnel or structures.