Evacuation orders lifted after firefighters gain upper hand on Boulevard brush fire

Evacuated residents living near a brush fire that broke out in Boulevard Friday morning were invited to return to their homes in the afternoon after firefighters gained the upper hand on the 88-acre blaze, officials said.

The fire was reported about 11:30 a.m. near Roadrunner Lane and Moonlit Trail in Boulevard, according to Cal Fire.

About two hours later, Cal Fire officials said they had stopped the blaze’s forward rate of spread. It was about 15% contained by late afternoon, Cal Fire Capt. Thomas Shoots said.

The evacuation orders, which stretched from Ribbonwood Road to McCain Valley Road, and warnings for the areas just to the east and north of the evacuation zone were lifted around 3 p.m., according to the Genasys Protect app.

“Firefighters will remain on scene and through the morning to build a containment line around the fire and cool hot spots,” Shoots said.

Fire crews were using a U.S. Border Patrol station in the area as an incident command post.

Also Friday, multiple brush fires were burning within the borders of Camp Pendleton, North County Fire Protection District officials said in a statement posted to X. Officials issued a smoke advisory, telling residents that smoke may be visible, but there is no threat to the surrounding district.