November Fire Burns Hundreds of Acres at Camp Pendleton Triggering Evacuations

CAMP PENDLETON, California — Emergency ground and air crews are battling a fast-moving vegetation fire on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton that has triggered mandatory evacuation orders and widespread warnings. Dubbed the November Fire, the blaze erupted on Wednesday morning, June 10, 2026, at approximately 10:00 a.m. in the southern portion of the military installation near Shadow Tree Drive and Rivertree Road.

Driven by onshore winds, the brush fire quickly grew to several hundred acres, threatening critical base infrastructure and sending thick plumes of dark smoke across San Diego, Orange, and Riverside counties. While initial emergency estimates placed the burn area at roughly 800 acres, subsequent precision mapping by aerial intelligence aircraft adjusted the active burn zone to approximately 560 acres. By late Wednesday afternoon, CAL FIRE reported that firefighting crews had successfully halted the forward rate of spread, though the blaze remains at zero percent containment as extended attack operations continue.

The rapid spread of the flames forced military and municipal officials to issue immediate evacuation orders for recreational facilities in the direct path of the fire. On-base personnel evacuated the Marine Memorial Golf Course shortly after the fire sparked, while the Oceanside Police Department completely cleared the Oceanside Municipal Golf Course as flames pushed southward. Additionally, authorities issued formal evacuation warnings for several residential neighborhoods in northern Oceanside directly bordering the military base, encompassing emergency management zones SDC-0317, SDC-0372, SDC-0427, and SDC-0429.

To support displaced residents and golf course patrons, municipal organizers established a temporary evacuation center at El Camino High School, located at 400 Rancho Del Oro Drive in Oceanside. More than a dozen aircraft, including fixed-wing air tankers and water-dropping helicopters from state, federal, and private resources, are actively dropping fire retardant and utilizing local water sources to extinguish spot fires along the perimeter. No structural damage or civilian injuries have been reported.

Meanwhile, the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District has issued a comprehensive smoke advisory for Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Bonsall, and Fallbrook. Health officials warn that fine particulate matter and ozone levels have reached unhealthy thresholds, particularly for sensitive groups, children, and the elderly. Residents in the path of the smoke plume, which is drifting northeast toward Temecula and Wildomar, are being urged to limit outdoor activity and remain indoors with windows closed until air quality conditions improve.

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