Camp Pendleton blaze threatens De Luz Canyon

CAMP PENDLETON – A blaze that began about noon on a firing range at Camp Pendleton grew to 300 acres this afternoon and prompted evacuations from a populated canyon, the California Department of Forestry said.

Hindered by hot, dry and windy conditions, strike teams from San Diego, Vista, Carlsbad and the California Department of Forestry battled to keep the fire from spreading into De Luz Canyon, about two miles from the India training range, where the fire started, authorities said.

Residents in the area of Mile Marker 5.5 on De Luz Road were asked to voluntarily evacuate, and the sheriff's department was asked to stand by in case mandatory evacuations were ordered, sheriff's Lt. Ed Prendergast said.

Temperatures at Camp Pendleton reached a high of 99 degrees today, with 13 mph winds and 10 percent humidity, National Weather Service meteorologist Ivory Small said.

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