ESCONDIDO Calif. -- Surrounded by moonscape-gray hills burned crisp by the Paradise Fire, an oak grove still stands at the north end of Lake Wohlford. It's home to residents at Oakvale Park, a tightly packed trailer park community of 60 residents.

Thanks to fire lines, dug by hand and defended by Camp Pendleton firefighters, Oakvale Park residents made it through, untouched by flames that burned hundreds of their neighbors' homes to the ground in northern San Diego County.

"They saved us," said Oakvale Park resident Jim L. Durbin. "Without the Camp Pendleton firefighters, our houses would have been burned to ashes."

The crews did the tough grunt work required to protect the trailer park. The men dug in around the park's perimeter and fought back the flames. Once the Paradise Fire passed through the area, their mission turned to mopping up and preventing flare-ups when evening winds arrived.

"I love it," said Pendleton firefighters Ted E. Milan. "It's a good feeling saving lives and property."

Milan and 21 other Pendleton firefighters who fought the Paradise Fire said they put in extra effort when they were battling the Roblar II Fire on base. The crews said they knew the more serious work was off base at the Cedar and Paradise fires, because lives and homes were being taken at an alarming rate.

"A wildfire is a wildfire, the difference here is the houses are closer to the fire line," said Tom C. Klein, a Pendleton firefighter who also fought back flames at Oakvale Park.

Flames came to within 75 yards of homes at Oakvale Park.

"These guys go to work while everyone else runs for their life," said Oakvale Park owner Hal Barker.

"When I saw the fire approaching our houses, I didn't think they were going to stop the fire ... but they did," Barker said.

Gunnery Sgt. Hevezi at: HeveziMJ@pendleton. usmc.mil