Base Fire Sends Smoke Across Southwest Riverside County

The following was written by Mirna Alfonso:

Marines burning heavy brush for fire prevention at Camp Pendleton scorched about 500 acres Wednesday, sending a thick column of smoke east toward Southwest Riverside County.

The controlled burn was started about 2:30 p.m. in the Whiskey Impact area, toward the middle of the roughly 120,000-acre military base, according to Marine Gunnery Sgt. Scott Dunn.

The burn -- just south of the Santa Margarita Mountains -- was completed about 6:45 p.m., Dunn told Patch over the telephone.

The Whiskey Impact area is used for target practice involving firearms but also for the deployment of heavier ordnance.