300 Acres of Brush Consumed by Fire in Fallbrook

More than 300 firefighters continued to battle a blaze that had burned at least 300 acres of brush near Riverside County on Friday. Meanwhile, a brushfire in the northwest section of Camp Pendleton burned 850 acres before being controlled Thursday night.

The Fallbrook fire was in a remote area near Gavilan Mountain Road.

However, Dolores Fremter, spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry, said Friday afternoon that the fire had been 40% contained.

“It is burning very slowly,” she said.

She said the steep terrain of the canyon area coupled with gusty winds made fighting the fire difficult.

Fremter said homes near the blaze were not in danger because the fire was burning away from them. No injuries have been reported, she said.

Battling the fire were 362 state forestry firefighters, two helicopters, two bulldozers and five engine companies from North County fire departments.

The cause of the fire, which started about 7:30 p.m. Thursday, was not known, Fremter said.

The Camp Pendleton fire, which was reported about 12:45 p.m. Thursday, was brought under control at 6:20 p.m. by eight engine companies from the base and a strike team of Orange County firefighters, said Sgt. Stan Pederson.

There were no injuries and no structural damage from the blaze, which swept through part of the Camp Talega section, east of Cristianitos Road, Pederson said. The cause of the fire has not been determined.