MAP: 7,000+ evacuees allowed to return after 4,276-acre Creek Fire erupts near Camp Pendleton

UPDATE: SATURDAY 5:39 P.M.

The Creek Fire is now 90% contained and remains 4,276 acres, according to CAL FIRE San Diego.

UPDATE: 6:16 A.M.

The Creek Fire remains at 4,276 acres and is 65 percent contained, according to CAL FIRE.

UPDATE: 8:02 P.M.

The Creek Fire has burned 4,276 acres and is 35% contained, according to CAL FIRE San Diego. Firefighters will be at the scene overnight to continue building containment lines and mopping up the fire.

UPDATE: 5:47 P.M.

Camp Pendleton Fire Department and ⁦CAL FIRE San Diego have cleared all evacuees to go back to their homes, adding that a ring has been built around the Creek Fire to contain and stop it from reaching any housing areas.

UPDATE: 4:52 P.M.

Evacuation orders and warnings south of the De Luz Road closure have been lifted. Evacuation warnings to the west and north remain in effect.

The De Luz Road closure, between Sandia Creek Drive and Harris Trail, remains in effect.

The American Red Cross Temporary Evacuation Point (TEP) at Fallbrook High School has transitioned to a virtual TEP. Red Cross remains available to assist Creek Fire evacuees needing hotels and other services, by calling 571-595-7911.

UPDATE: 3:37 P.M.

Firefighters continue to perform controlled burns around the Creek Fire:

UPDATE 2 P.M.

UPDATE 12:40 P.M.
County Office of Emergency Servies says some evacuation orders have been downgraded to evacuation warnings.

UPDATE 11 A.M.
USO San Diego is assisting Camp Pendleton base residents forced to evacuate due to the Creek Fire at the Paige Field House evacuation center on 1110 13th St.

Food, water, and supplies will be provided for evacuees by USO San Diego.

UPDATE 10:13 A.M.
According to North County Fire, the Creek Fire has burned 3,050 acres so far, with 0% containment. Evacuation orders, officials say, remain in place.

UPDATE 9:15 A.M.
Camp Pendleton officials say Creek Fire is "holding" at 3,000 acres burned. However, they say containment is at 0% -- nearly three hours after reporting containment was at 35%.

UPDATE 8:38 A.M.

Air resources working to put out the #CreekFire. pic.twitter.com/QYNFBGkfUp

— Marie Coronel (@10NewsCoronel) December 24, 2020

UPDATE 7:30 A.M.

Smoke Advisory issued for #CreekFire pic.twitter.com/hdBjwBkApK

— San Diego County APCD (@sdapcd) December 24, 2020

UPDATE 6:45 A.M.
Camp Pendleton officials say the Creek Fire has now burned 3,000 acres.

UPDATE 6:05 A.M.
The Creek Fire is 35% contained and has burned at least 750 acres, according to Camp Pendleton officials. No structure damage has been reported.

ABC 10News learned around 7,000 people have been evacuated. The Red Cross has established an evacuation point at Fallbrook High School (2400 S Stage Coach Lane).

UPDATE 4:13 A.M.
Camp Pendleton has issued a mandatory evacuation order for the DeLuz Housing, Wounded Warrior Battalion, and Lake O'Niell Campground areas due to a fire near Naval Weapons Station - Fallbrook. Affected personnel are to relocate to Paige Fieldhouse.

UPDATE 2:25 A.M.
North San Diego County fire officials say the Creek Fire is now 300 acres. It was reported to be 50 acres around 12:30 a.m.

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- A fast-moving wildfire that erupted early Thursday morning near Camp Pendleton has forced mandatory evacuations of thousands of residents, San Diego County fire officials announced.

Fire officials said the blaze, named Creek Fire, has been moving along De Luz Road, which has placed the area under mandatory evacuations. Crews have also shut down nearby roads.

"#CreekFire in De Luz [update] Fire is pushing southwest of De Luz Road further onto Camp Pendleton towards Ammunition Road. Road closure on De Luz Road at Sandia Creek," Cal Fire San Diego said in a tweet just after 1 a.m.

Just north of Fallbrook, deputies have been "making door to door notifications to warn residents living along Patton Oaks Rd, Shady Lane, Darla Lane and a portion of Main Ave," the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said in a tweet.

Evacuees are being directed to Fallbrook High School located at 2400 S Stage Coach Lane.

CAL FIRE estimates that the evacuation orders will impact "7,000 residents on west side of Fallbrook."

North County resident Fred Strain told ABC 10News that flames were "visible from portions of Fallbrook."

According to fire officials, winds are pushing the blaze "west southwest more into Camp Pendleton."

Crews are battling the fire under critical conditions fueled by Santa Ana winds bringing 30-50 mph wind gusts over the county. A Red Flag Warning has been called for the inland and mountain areas until 12 p.m. Christmas Eve. Gusty winds and low humidity levels between 5 and 15% will create critical fire danger.