California: Tomahawk Fire near Fallbrook

Tomahawk Fire
Tomahawk Fire, from Red Mountain at 2:24 p.m. PDT, May 14, 2014

(UPDATED at 7:27 p.m. PDT, May 15, 2014)

The fire is still reported to be 6,000 acres. A Type 2 Incident Management Team, with Incident Commander Garwood, is on scene.

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(UPDATED at 8:59 p.m. PDT, May 14, 2014)

CAL FIRE reported at about 8 p.m. that the fire was 6,000 acres. It spread from the Naval Weapons Station near Fallbrook onto Camp Pendleton. 

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(UPDATED at 4:40 p.m. PDT, May 14, 2014)

A change in wind direction has resulted in Fallbrook having an increased threat from the Tomahawk Fire that started just west of the community on Camp Pendleton. The wind is now from the west and southwest pushing the smoke, and possibly the fire, closer to the town.

CAL FIRE reports that the Tomahawk fire has burned 150 acres, and the Highway fire, near Interstate 15 and SR-76 has blackened about 600 acres with no containment. Evacuations are taking place in the area of the Tomahawk fire.

The Southern California Geographic Area Coordination Center reported at 4 p.m. that Interstate 15 is closed from 3.5 miles south of the junction of SR76 to 0.7 miles north of the junction of SR76 (San Diego County) as of 3:27 p.m. due to a wildfire. Possibly the Highway Fire which started near the intersection of I-15 and SR-76 is the culprit in the freeway closing issue. However, by 4:40 p.m. the Interstate reopened.

The updated map below shows the spread of the Highway, Tomahawk, and Poinsettia Fires.

 

Tomahawk, Poinsettia, Highway, Fires, 322 pm PDT, May 14, 2014
Tomahawk, Poinsettia, Highway, Fires, 3:22 p.m. PDT, May 14, 2014. The square red icons represent heat detected by a satellite; the location of the icons can be as much as a mile in error.

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(UPDATED at 3:04 p.m. PDT, May 14, 2014)

The size of the Tomahawk Fire near Fallbrook on the east side of Camp Pendleton is now estimated at 150 acres.

A third fire in San Diego County, the Highway Fire seen in the photo below, is being fought by firefighters near the intersection of Interstate 15 and SR76. It started at about 1 p.m. and by 1:45 it had burned about 30 acres according to CAL FIRE.

Highway Fire, From Red Mountain, at 232 pm PDT, May 14, 2014
Highway Fire, From Red Mountain, at 2:32 p.m. PDT, May 14, 2014

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A new fire on the east side of Camp Pendleton near Fallbrook, California is growing rapidly and threatening the DeLuz housing area. The map, below shows the approximate location of the Tomahawk fire that started at 9:40 Wednesday morning.

Map Tomahawk Fire, 1205 PDT, May 14, 2014
Map of the Tomahawk Fire, showing heat detected by a satellite at 12:05 PDT, May 14, 2014. The locations of the icons can be as much as a mile in error.

There could be shortages of firefighting resources, since at least two other fires in the area also have to be staffed by firefighters and aircraft. The Bernardo Fire north of San Diego started Tuesday and burned about 1,500 acres before the winds died down in the evening. Another fire that started Wednesday morning, the Poinsettia Fire in Carlsbad, is also very active and is threatening structures and causing evacuations.

We will update this article as more information becomes available today.

Three SoCal fires, 1205 PDT, May 14, 2014
Three SoCal fires, Tomahawk, Poinsettia,a nd Bernardo, at 12:05 PDT, May 14, 2014

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

12 thoughts on “California: Tomahawk Fire near Fallbrook”

  1. My sister lives in Fallbrook at 1565 Wilshire Road. Can anyone tell me if her house or area is in fire danger right now? I cannot reach her by phone. Any response would be greatly appreciated. 818-823-5380
    Thank you.

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  2. The Camp Pendelton Public Affairs Office is putting out very little information on the fire. It appears that Marine helicopters are using bambi buckets as of today.

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  3. What is the details on the Tomahawk fire? The news is only showing others. ..we live close to the back gate of Pendleton off Aviation

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    1. Angela, all we know about the Tomahawk fire we posted here. It is difficult to obtain information about fires on Camp Pendleton because the military does not very often allow reporters onto the base when there is a wildfire. For fires outside the base in California, reporters have a legal right to go almost anywhere as long as they are not interfering with firefighters. Some other states and jurisdictions have more restrictive rules than California, unfortunately.

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  4. Bill, I was just on CalFire’s website and I see now how the misunderstanding happened. According to CalFire’s write-up of the Tomahawk Fire, the *fire* is being *administered* by CamPen Fire, but CamPen doesn’t administer the Weapons Station.

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  5. Bill, Yes, the fire started on Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Detachment Fallbrook and burned west to Camp Pendleton. It burned approximately 6,000 of the Weapons Station’s 9,000 acres. But, no, the Weapons Station is most definitely NOT administered by Camp Pendleton. It’s a Navy facility; has been since it was created in 1942. Thanks.

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  6. HOW MANY CAL FIRE AGENCIES, AND IS THE U.S.MARINE CORP AND THE NAVAL WEAPONS CENTER AIDING IN THE FIRE FIGHTING EFFORT AS WELL

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    1. There’s about 9 fires in the area right now. I’m pretty sure every one available is on top of it. I can’t see the las palugas fire from my house on base. I know wire a few marines were sent home early today for safety. But those with the skill and in the field of fire I’m sure are there

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  7. Cal Fire has probably drawn down every fix wing tanker and helicopter/helitack crews, ATGS and ASM in the State. Is there any Federal air resources available? How is the tanker carding coming or is it tied up with red tape? I bet those people in So. Cal. and Oklahoma pay their share of Federal income tax.

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  8. Fallbrook has a naval weapons station nearby … the largest Navy weapons storage site on the west coast

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