Crime & Safety

No Fire, But Smoke Continues To Linger

The fire near the 43 Area of Camp Pendleton burned some 180 acres Thursday.

A brush fire on Camp Pendleton Thursday reached some 180 acres and closed part of Basilone Road for a time, but the blaze was contained the same day by base firefighters.

However, smoke continues to linger across Southwest Riverside County Friday, which has prompted inquiries: "Is there a fire?"

According to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman Melody Hendrickson, no largescale brush fires are burning in Southwest Riverside County as of 7 p.m. Friday.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hendrickson could not confirm that Friday's hazy smoke is from yesterday's Pendleton fire, but she said it's not coming from a current blaze in the Cal Fire jurisdiction. Calls to Camp Pendleton's media line have not been returned at press time.

Earlier Friday, a vegetation fire did break out in Anza and scorched 7.5 acres before it was contained by Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department officials at approximately 2 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

There were no injuries reported with either blaze, and no structures were damaged, according to reports.

The lingering smoke is not a good sign for those who are sensitive to poor air quality.

According to South Coast Air Quality Management District, air quality in Lake Elsinore is forecast to be "unhealthy" for some on Saturday. Click here to read more about that report.

Adding to Saturday's air could be more smoke from Camp Pendleton. According to a base news release, the Camp Pendleton Fire Department is scheduled to conduct a seasonal hazard reduction burn Saturday and Sunday near the School of Infantry-West area of the base.

The School of Infantry-West is located between the base's San Onofre housing and Camp Horno areas near the Northwest boundary of the base.

Residents may notice smoke clouds during the burn.


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