Follow-Up: Henderson Fire at Camp Pendleton Reaches 50% Containment at 3,160 Acres

SAN DIEGO COUNTY — Containment of the Henderson Fire, the brush fire burning at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, has jumped from 20% to 50%, according to CAL FIRE's official incident data updated at 7:24 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, while the fire's size edged up from 3,132 acres to 3,160 acres. The 30-point leap in containment is the largest single suppression gain since the fire began on October 15.

Against Saturday morning's official figures, item by item: acreage rose from 3,132 to 3,160 — an increase of just 28 acres, indicating the fire's perimeter has largely stabilized; containment climbed from 20% to 50%. Evacuations saw no new changes — officials issued no new evacuation orders or warnings, the order for the base's Las Flores (41 Area) was lifted at 7:31 p.m. on October 15, temporary evacuation points remain at the Paige Field House in the 11 Area and the 21 Area Fitness Center, and no evacuation orders have been issued for surrounding off-base communities at any point. On damage and injuries, officials still report no destroyed structures and no injuries, and the cause remains under investigation.

On suppression, the San Diego County Incident Management Team has been assigned to support the Henderson Fire across command, operations, planning, logistics and finance, and firefighters continue building containment lines, extinguishing hot spots and addressing hazards. The Camp Pendleton Fire Department holds jurisdiction over the fire, with CAL FIRE, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Caltrans among the cooperating agencies. On roads, Interstate 5 — twice closed in both directions because of flames and smoke — fully reopened at 5:14 p.m. on October 16, and the latest official data mentioned no new closure.

The Henderson Fire was first reported at 2:35 p.m. on October 15 near Henderson Street and Brown Street in the western part of Camp Pendleton. Pushed by easterly winds, it grew to roughly 400 acres within 90 minutes and was mapped at 1,404 acres that evening, prompting the 41 Area evacuation order and the first closure and reopening of I-5. By midday Friday it had reached 2,080 acres — later revised by mapping to 2,079 acres — with containment still at zero and I-5 closed in both directions for a second time. By Friday evening, containment had climbed to 20% and the freeway was fully open. On Saturday morning, official mapping revised the burned area up to 3,132 acres with containment holding at 20%; by Saturday evening, containment had reached 50% at 3,160 acres.

Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)

Photo: 图：Henderson Fire 态势图，Watch Duty 截图（10月16日13时50分截取，局部裁切）。图中红色周界为截取时的火场范围（2,079.4英亩），西南侧橄榄色区域为疏散分区；最新官方数据以加州消防局（CAL FIRE）官方事件数据10月17日晚更新为准：过火面积3,160英亩、控制率50%。图片来源：Watch Duty。Situation map of the Henderson Fire, Watch Duty screenshot taken at 1:50 p.m. on Oct. 16 (cropped). The red perimeter reflects mapping at capture time (2,079.4 acres), with the evacuation zone shaded olive at the southwest; the latest official figures, per CAL FIRE incident data updated on the evening of Oct. 17, are 3,160 acres and 50% containment. Source: Watch Duty.

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