Smoke visible in North County is from fire burning on Camp Pendleton – NBC 7 San Diego
Sarah Richards
Updated on April 05, 2026
Canyon Fire Details as of Thursday Evening
- Location: North Camp Pendleton: "Whiskey" and "Quebec" impact zones
- Size: 7,000 acres
- Containment: 50% contained
Firefighters are working to subdue a brush fire that is still burning on open training grounds at Camp Pendleton.
The blaze erupted Monday afternoon on the northern end of the military installation, roughly 5 miles west of San Clemente.
As of 5:40 p.m. Thursday, the fire was 50% contained and had burned 7,000 acres, continuing to not be a threat to people or structures on or off base, according to public affairs personnel.
**** UPDATE ****
The Canyon Fire remains contained within the Whiskey and Quebec Impact Areas. There is no threat to personnel or structures. CPFD personnel are currently working mop up efforts.
50% contained.
— Camp Pendleton (@MCIWPendletonCA) November 2, 2023
7,000 acres burnt.
"The Camp Pendleton Fire Department mutual-aid partners are on scene, actively working containment and control efforts," base personnel said.
The fire was sending smoke across North County San Diego and prompted an extension of a smoke advisory from the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District.
"Smoke from the fire is moving south and east and impacting areas of the North and Central County coastal areas and slowly moving inland. The smoke is expected to spread over most of San Diego County by Friday and affect most areas west of the mountains," the district said.
For areas of the county seeing heavy smoke, the control district advised to assume air quality levels were unhealthy for all individuals, particularly for sensitive groups. In areas with minimal smoke, air quality could still be unhealthy for sensitive groups.
"In areas where you smell smoke, it is advised that you limit physical/outdoor activity. If possible, stay indoors to limit your exposure to fine particulate matter and ozone, especially those residents with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children," the agency said.
An air quality alert was issued earlier in the week for drift smoke from the Highland Fire burning in south Riverside County that firefighters were gaining control of as of mid-week. The Highland Fire scorched nearly 2,500 acres, forced evacuations and destroyed homes.
