The Juliet fire that raged across Camp Pendleton and consumed almost 4,000 acres is now 75 percent contained, base officials said Wednesday morning.

From today's Union-Tribune: Evacuees return; homes spared

The Juliet and Shockey fires burned within yards of several homes in the North and East counties overnight, but air and ground attacks saved structures.

“Had we not had the Superscooper and other assets, we would have lost a lot of homes of Marines and sailors,” said Col. James Seaton, base commander at Camp Pendleton.

Lance Cpl. Ryan Conroy, 21, and his wife, Brittany, 22, said they had only 15 minutes to leave their home on base when they got the order at 3:45 p.m. Monday. They grabbed their laptop with their wedding photos and left.

Developments in larger fires Juliet fire: Began about 3 p.m. Monday on Camp Pendleton and burned 4,000 acres along the border with Oceanside. All evacuation orders were lifted in Oceanside but some remained in place on base. The fire was 75 percent contained early today. The cause is under investigation. Las Pulgas fire: Began about 10:30 a.m. yesterday near Interstate 5 just north of Oceanside and burned 110 acres. The freeway was closed for about an hour in both directions. The fire was fully contained at 5 p.m. It was caused by a gardener clearing weeds and brush. Shockey fire: Began about 2:40 a.m. yesterday near Campo and burned 200 acres. All evacuation orders have been lifted and fire was fully contained at 6 p.m. yesterday. The cause is under investigation.

There is no estimate as to when the blaze will be 100 percent surrounded, but firefighters are making good progress and weather conditions are favorable, said Staff Sgt. Jesse Lora, a spokesman for the Marine base north of Oceanside.

Residents who live in the San Luis Rey housing area, near where the fire burned, are still not allowed back into their homes this morning, but they may be able to return later Wednesday, Lora said.

Some 679 firefighters are battling the blaze and three helicopters are still flying overhead dropping water. One firefighter suffered minor injuries, Cal Fire officials said.

Temperatures are expected to be in the 90s on the base, with relative humidity at 15 percent and winds at just 5 mph, Cal Fire officials said.

In East County, the Shockey fire, which started early Tuesday morning near state Route 94 and the Shockey Truck Trail, is 100 percent contained and is expected to be fully controlled by noon Wednesday, said Cal Fire spokeswoman Audrey Hagen.

That blaze, which initially threatened several homes, scorched about 200 acres. At least one firefighter suffered minor injuries.

Aggressive action by firefighters, as well as the defensible space residents created around their homes, kept the flames from burning any structures in either fire. What sparked the blazes remains under investigation.

The red-flag warning issued by the National Weather Service is still in effect and has been extended until 10 p.m Wednesday night.

Temperatures in San Diego County are expected to remain high during the week, with highs in the inland valley forecast to be in the 90s and mid-80s at the coast.

Cool marine air should bring temperatures back to normal over the weekend.

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