Firefighters credited for fast control

By Debbi Baker and Kristina Davis CAMP PENDLETON – An aggressive attack and a turn in the weather helped firefighters gain the upper hand on a wildfire yesterday that scorched 1,500 acres on Camp Pendleton, but drifting smoke prompted air-quality officials to issue a health advisory throughout Southern California. Full control on the November fire, named after the training area where it started, was expected last night as firefighters worked to extinguish remaining hot spots. “If firefighters wouldn't have jumped on this thing as quickly as they did and as aggressively as they did, it could have gotten much worse,” said Camp Pendleton Fire Inspector Bill Gick. The fire was first reported about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Range 401, an explosive-ordnance disposal area, Gick said. Eventually it burned the hillsides north of... [read full story]