Some Residents Are Shaken by Pendleton Blasts

Bombs were pounding at Camp Pendleton on Thursday, shaking up some San Clemente residents still nervous about the recent earthquakes.

A Marine Corps spokeswoman explained that the blasts coming from the direction of the base Thursday afternoon between 2 and 3 p.m. were part of a bombing practice series that will continue through mid-July. As part of that practice, MK82 bombs are being dropped from aircraft on a Camp Pendleton range, said Cpl. Lisa Prather.

“These are 500-pound bombs. Anybody in the surrounding area of the base has a good possibility of feeling it,” Prather said. “It just depends on the weather. Noise often travels farther in dry, clear weather.”

The last time the Marines held such bombing exercises, on a night a few weeks ago, several people in the north San Diego County area were spooked and called 911, said Lt. Kevin Bentley. As a precaution, the Marines have attempted to notify the media in neighboring cities that the exercises will continue into July, Bentley said.

“This will be a regular occurrence every Thursday afternoon,” said Bentley, who added that he understands the concerns of neighboring residents. “People are used to hearing artillery coming out of here, but that occurs on a different range. These bombs are about the loudest thing you’ll ever hear coming out of this base.”