A wildfire at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base in northern San Diego County led to evacuation orders early Thursday as Santa Ana winds blow dangerous and dry conditions to Southern California.
According to the base and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the evacuation orders – which have since been lifted – hit 7,000 residents on the west side of the Fallbrook community and in front of some Camp Pendleton sites.
Cal Fire said the bushfire known as the Creek Fire is 35% contained and has scorched at least 3,500 acres since Thursday night.
Cal Fire San Diego via AP
The National Weather Service forecast moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds Wednesday through Thursday afternoon.
The San Diego Weather Bureau reported that the wind had peaked and had slowly eased. The highest wind speed recorded in San Diego County was 71 mph.
Utilities proactively turn off power to thousands of customers in selected areas to prevent fires from being ignited by downed pipes or sparks from wind-blown debris landing on electrical equipment.
Edison in Southern California had turned off the power to more than 18,000 customers earlier Thursday. Nearly 6,800 San Diego Gas & Electric customers were blacked out, and more than 24,000 others were warned they would lose power too.
Camp Pendleton spans 195 square miles of coastal and mountain terrain.
Peter Martinez contributed to this report.