MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- About 250 firefighters from the base and six surrounding communities, aided by seven firefighting aircraft, battled a Santa Ana-wind-driven brush fire here Sept. 22 that burned 160 acres near Rattlesnake Canyon Road and forced evacuation of several barracks. No injuries or property damage were reported.
The fire spawned power outages in some areas of the base. Fire investigators believe damaged electrical equipment started the blaze, which flared up just as most Marines on the base were getting off work for the day.
Base fire crews were first on the scene. Crews from Vista, San Marcos, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas and a crew from North County Fire in Fallbrook came shortly thereafter, based on pre-established mutual-aid agreements.
The quick response played a huge roll in keeping the fire from damaging any of the structures in the 12 and 13 Areas on base, said Robert Johnson, the base's deputy chief for fire prevention. Both stations are located just hundreds of yards from where the fire broke out.
"It was right down the street," Johnson said. "Pre-planning was a big, big factor."
The blaze quickly caught hold in the tinder-dry, overgrown brush around the paintball range and rushed up the high hill near the corner of Vandegrift Boulevard and Rattlesnake Canyon Road.
Fixed-wing aircraft dropped fire retardant and helicopters dumped water scooped from Lake O'Neill over the inferno to try to quench it, said Chief Mark Sayles, the base's wildland fire coordinator.
As flames peaked over the crest and started down the other side of the hill, sparks jumped across the eastbound lanes of Rattlesnake Canyon Road and ignited trees in the small valley that runs between opposite sides of the road before moving across the westbound lanes and up the ridgeline.
Though no buildings were destroyed, the inferno came close to some.
The auto-hobby shop, with its stored vehicles and noxious, explosive chemicals, was the most closely threatened structure, said Col. Patrick O'Donogue, the 13 Area commander.
"It burned right up to the fire-breaks around the building," said O'Donogue, who added that he didn't take much notice of the fire until he could see the smoke and flames from his office.
The spreading blaze also caused the evacuation of several barracks buildings.
"Everybody had to leave," said Lance Cpl. Robert J. W. Lomax, a field wireman from 9th Communication Battalion, whose barracks was one of those evacuated.
The smoke originally drew Lomax to the top of a nearby hill. Thinking it was from a downed helicopter, he went to render any necessary assistance. He ended up staying and watching the conflagration until the fire came too close for safety.
"It was a pretty hectic night," Lomax said. "I'm just glad my house didn't burn. I don't have anywhere else to stay."
The fire was the first to seriously threaten populated areas of the base since the Roblar II fire last October, said Bill Frankel, the deputy chief for fire operations on the base.
Last year's fire scorched 8,592 acres on and off base, Frankel said.