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Pendleton fire almost contained

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Firefighters at Camp Pendleton, Calif., took the upper hand Wednesday on a wildfire that forced thousands of base residents from their homes while devouring nearly 4,000 acres.

The fire, which began at about 3 p.m. Monday and burned a hilly training area along Pendleton’s southern boundary, was about 75 percent contained as of 11 a.m. Wednesday, base officials said. Officials lifted evacuation orders for residents of Serra Mesa, a neighborhood near the base’s main headquarters, while crews continued to monitor for possible flare-ups in an area that burned for several hours Tuesday along Interstate 5.

In all, about 4,000 base and city residents in northern Oceanside had been told to evacuate.

“Firefighters continue to make good progress as they construct containment lines and improve existing ones,” officials said in a statement.

There were no reports of or injuries, and no structures have been destroyed, they said. The fire had burned trees and brush near the base’s San Luis Rey gate and in an area that includes horse stables.

Dry “Santa Ana” winds that have fueled the wildfires throughout Southern California were expected to lessen later in the day, but warmer daytime temperatures and low humidity levels projected through Thursday continue to raise the threat of more brushfires.