06/16/2026
*****FIRE UPDATE***** 5:45 P.M. June 17th, 2026
Cleveland National Forest Firefighters are continuing to battle the Mateo Fire alongside Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Fire Department. The Orange County Fire Authority and San Diego County Fire support resources have been released from the fire, allowing those personnel to respond to other incidents as the need arises. The fire continues to burn into the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness and remote areas of Camp Pendleton.
The fire is holding at 1183 acres today and remains at 40% containment with minimal heat and smoke arising from the fire. Firefighters conducted fire operations on 50 acres in order to secure the fire in the impact area. Firefighters will continue to strengthen containment lines and are continuing to monitor the surrounding hillsides for any additional flare ups or “spotting” away from the fire.
There are currently three hotshot crews, and two helicopter aviation resources on-site. The resources that departed today consist of five hotshot crews, two bulldozers and 3 of the 5 helicopters aviation resources as well as the support Task Force from Arizona State Forestry.
*****FIRE UPDATE***** 10:30 A.M. June 17th, 2026
The fire grew to approximately 1183 acres yesterday and stayed at that size overnight and remains at 40% containment. Overnight firefighters reinforced containment lines and are continuing to monitor the surrounding hillsides for any additional flare ups or “spotting” away from the fire.
There are currently eight hotshot crews, one support task force from Arizona State Forestry consisting of type 3 and type 6 engines, two water tender, two bulldozers and five helicopter aviation resources on-site. All consisting of a total of 460 personnel assisting on the fire.
While firefighters are working on fighting the Mateo fire, the public is asked to use caution with anything that can spark a fire as the Southern California weather continues to heat up and vegetation dries out.
*****FIRE UPDATE***** 6:00 P.M. June 16th, 2026
Cleveland National Forest Firefighters are continuing to respond to the Mateo fire alongside Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Fire Department with support from Orange County Fire Department as the fire continues to burn into the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness and remote areas of Camp Pendleton.
The fire has grown to approximately 1183 acres and acting with moderate fire growth. Cause is still under investigation, and the fire is now at 40% containment. There are no structures or communities threatened.
There are currently eight hotshot crews, one support task force from Arizona State Forestry consisting of type 3 and type 6 engines, two water tender, two bulldozers and five helicopter aviation resources on-site. All consisting of a total of 460 personnel assisting on the fire.
Efforts for rest of today and into tonight will be to continue creating and managing containment lines with full suppression attack on the fire itself, always with a focus on firefighter safety.
*****FIRE UPDATE*****9:30 A.M. June 16th, 2026
Firefighters continue efforts on the Mateo Fire
SAN DIEGO, June 16, 2026 — Cleveland National Forest Firefighters are continuing to respond to the Mateo fire alongside Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Fire Department as the fire is burning into the San Mateo Wilderness and remote areas of Camp Pendleton.
The fire has grown to approximately 990 acres and acted with a moderate fire growth overnight. Cause is under investigation and there is now a 10% containment. There are no structures or communities threatened. The fire originated in the Quebec Impact Training area of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near the San Mateo Creek.
The Mateo Fire is burning along difficult terrain in heavy fuels and dense vegetation with moderate fire behavior. Last night, fire crews conducted fire operations in an effort to slow the rate of spread and to help strengthen containment lines.
There are currently eight hotshot crews, two type 3 engines, one water tender, and two helicopter aviation resources on-site. Aviation resources continued to assist in suppressing the fire overnight.
Efforts for today will be to continue creating and managing containment lines with full suppression attack on the fire itself, always with a focus on firefighter safety.
Fore more information please see our alerts page on our website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/cleveland/alerts
*****FIRE ALERT*****
Firefighters enter Unified Command of Mateo Fire on Cleveland National Forest
SAN DIEGO, June 15, 2026 — Cleveland National Forest Firefighters are continuing to respond to the Mateo fire and have taken unified command with Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Fire Department as the fire is burning into the Cleveland National Forest Trabuco Ranger District.
The fire is approximately 650 acres and is located on the San Mateo Wilderness in the Trabuco Ranger District. The fire originated in the Quebec Impact Training area of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near the San Mateo Creek. Cause is under investigation and there is a 5% containment. There are no structures or communities threatened.
The Mateo Fire is burning along difficult terrain in heavy fuels and dense vegetation with moderate to rapid rate of fire behavior and in a north by northeast direction.
There are currently five type 3 engines and two helicopter aviation resources on-site with additional resources being ordered. Aviation resources have been working on suppressing the fire throughout the day.
For the rest of tonight and into tomorrow morning, the expectation is for fire crews to work on establishing containment lines, with a focus on firefighter safety.
