*UPDATED at 6 pm Oct. 19, 2026: The Henderson Fire has burned 3260 acres and is 100% contained, according to Cal Fire.
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*UPDATED AT 6:30 PM Oct. 18, 2026:Â The Henderson Fire reaches 3226 acres with 85% containment, according to Cal Fire.
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*Updated at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17*
Cal Fire has reported the Henderson Fire to have burned 3,160 acres and is now 50% contained.
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*Updated at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17*
Henderson Fire containment reaches 35%; one structure destroyed
CAMP PENDLETON – Firefighters increased containment of the 3,132-acre Henderson Fire to 35% Saturday, and officials reported one structure destroyed.
CAL FIRE’s incident page, last updated at 1:03 p.m., showed containment up from 20% Saturday morning.
Fire activity eased overnight as winds weakened slightly and humidity increased. Officials attributed the revised acreage to improved mapping and a more accurate assessment of Friday’s growth.
Crews built containment lines and extinguished hot spots in Las Pulgas Canyon overnight. Bulldozers strengthened lines along the northwest flank. Saturday’s work focused on hot spots in the northern portion.
A heat advisory remained in effect until 8 p.m. Officials expected improving evening humidity to reduce fire activity, although vegetation remained extremely dry.
The response included 654 personnel, 69 engines, two helicopters, six bulldozers, two water tenders and 12 crews.
The fire started Thursday at 2:35 p.m. near Henderson and Brown streets. Its cause remains under investigation.
Smoke and flames forced closures of Interstate 5 Friday; all lanes reopened that afternoon.
The Camp Pendleton Fire Department has jurisdiction, supported by the San Diego County Type 3 Incident Management Team.
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UPDATE: Henderson Fire reaches 3,132 acres, remains 20% contained
CAMP PENDLETON – As of 6:15 a.m. Saturday morning, the Henderson Fire has grown to 3,132 acres and remains 20% contained. Strong Santa Ana winds and rugged terrain challenged firefighters and smoke forced temporary closures of Interstate 5.
The fire began at 2:35 p.m. Thursday near Henderson and Brown streets on Camp Pendleton. Its cause remains under investigation.
Flames and reduced visibility prompted authorities to close I-5 in both directions between Vandergrift Boulevard and Basilone Road on Friday. All lanes reopened by 5:45 p.m., according to a California Highway Patrol update.
A separate blaze, the Scales Fire, broke out Friday along I-5 near the San Onofre checkpoint. Firefighters stopped its spread at approximately 20 acres.
The Camp Pendleton Fire Department has jurisdiction over the Henderson Fire, with support from the San Diego County Type 3 Incident Management Team.
Assigned resources included 290 personnel, 45 engines, two bulldozers and 12 crews. Firefighters continued building containment lines, extinguishing hot spots and addressing hazards.
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UPDATE Friday 7:30 am:
CAMP PENDLETON – Evacuation orders were lifted and Interstate 5 reopened Thursday evening after the Henderson Fire burned 1,404 acres at Camp Pendleton, temporarily disrupting traffic and forcing personnel to leave part of the Marine Corps base.
The fire remained active with 0% containment in the latest CAL FIRE information available Friday morning, Oct. 16. The agency’s incident page was last updated at 8:14 p.m. Thursday.
The blaze broke out Thursday afternoon near Henderson and Brown streets and spread rapidly. An early CAL FIRE update estimated the fire at 75 acres at 2:47 p.m.; by late afternoon, it had grown to more than 1,100 acres. The Camp Pendleton Fire Department is the agency responsible for the incident.
Authorities ordered the evacuation of Las Flores, also known as the 41 Area. Affected personnel were directed to Paige Field House in the 11 Area, with a secondary evacuation location established at the 21 Area gym. The evacuation order was lifted at 7:31 p.m., according to CAL FIRE.
The fire also prompted the California Highway Patrol to close Interstate 5 in both directions between Harbor Drive in Oceanside and Basilone Road shortly after 5 p.m. The freeway was fully reopened by 6 p.m.
No injuries, deaths or destroyed structures had been reported in the accounts reviewed. The cause remained under investigation, and a final containment date had not been announced.
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UPDATE 5:45 pm: The I-5 freeway is opening back up as of 5:45 pm.
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A fast-moving wildfire at Camp Pendleton grew to hundreds of acres Thursday afternoon, prompting evacuations, threatening structures and forcing a full closure of Interstate 5 between Harbor Drive and Basilone Road.
The Henderson Fire was reported shortly before 2 p.m. Oct. 15 near Henderson Street and Brown Street in the base’s 43 Area, near Basilone Road and Las Pulgas Road.
The blaze rapidly expanded as east winds pushed flames through vegetation. Initial reports estimated the fire at approximately 75 acres, but later reports indicated it had grown to hundreds of acres, with one estimate exceeding 1,100 acres within about two hours.
Evacuations were ordered in the area of Brown and Henderson streets, while an evacuation warning was reported for the base’s 41 Area.
Interstate 5 was fully closed between Harbor Drive and Basilone Road as emergency crews responded to the growing fire. The closure disrupted traffic along the major North County corridor, and motorists were urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
Las Pulgas Road was also closed between Brown Street and Stuart Mesa Road. The Las Pulgas Gate was closed to all vehicles except emergency vehicles, and Stuart Mesa Road was closed in both directions near Fire Base Gloria.
Officials also reported a power outage affecting the Las Pulgas area.
Firefighters, ground crews and aircraft responded to the blaze as crews worked to slow its spread and protect threatened structures.
The Camp Pendleton Fire Department is the agency responsible for the incident. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The situation remains active, and acreage estimates, evacuation information and road closures may change as firefighting operations continue.
