Both fires on Camp Pendleton are no longer causing active closures. I-5 is fully open in both directions through the base. The Henderson Fire remains the primary concern: CAL FIRE reported it at 2,080 acres and 20% contained at 7:38 p.m. Oct. 16. The Scales Fire, sparked by a vehicle fire near the San Onofre checkpoint Friday afternoon, is 100% contained at approximately 20 acres and is no longer a traffic or evacuation concern.

The Henderson Fire ignited at 2:35 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Las Pulgas area of Camp Pendleton. It spread overnight and crossed containment lines on its northwest side Friday morning. CAL FIRE logged Friday's I-5 closure on the Henderson incident; the Union-Tribune tied it to the vehicle fire that became the Scales Fire. The Camp Pendleton Fire Department is the lead agency, supported by a San Diego County Type 3 incident management team and approximately 290 personnel. No structure losses or civilian injuries have been reported. Cause remains under investigation.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, a vehicle on a car-hauler caught fire near the San Onofre checkpoint on I-5 on the afternoon of Oct. 16 and spread into adjacent brush. CHP dispatch logs confirm fire reports and a Sig Alert at the checkpoint area beginning around 11:00–11:30 a.m. State parks officers evacuated San Onofre Beach Campground; Henderson Fire crews stopped the spread at about 20 acres. CAL FIRE lists the Scales Fire as 100% contained.

I-5 was fully closed between Vandergrift Boulevard and Basilone Road from approximately 12:29 p.m. to 5:14 p.m. Oct. 16. All lanes reopened at 5:14 p.m. The road had also been closed Thursday evening from Harbor Drive in Oceanside to Basilone Road. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service was suspended Friday due to smoke and flames; travelers should check Amtrak's service alerts for current status. Current road conditions: Caltrans QuickMap.

Neither fire has entered Orange County or triggered evacuations outside Camp Pendleton. The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District smoke advisory covers south Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Carlsbad, and Vista. A separate smoke advisory for south Orange County is associated with the unrelated Norte Fire. OCFA noted Oct. 15 that smoke might be visible from south Orange County but posed no threat to the county.