Thousands told to flee fires
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Legoland, Camp Pendleton affected
Firefighters were fighting five wildfires in and around San Diego, prompting at least 15,000 evacuation notices to residents and parts of a Marine Corps installation.
Carlsbad, California (CNN) -- Southern California firefighters were fighting five wildfires Wednesday in and around San Diego, prompting at least 15,000 evacuation notices to residents, businesses, schools and parts of a Marine Corps installation.
San Diego County proclaimed a local emergency Wednesday afternoon due to "at least five wildland fires burning," the county said. At least 20 structures were destroyed. The emergency allows the county to more easily access state and federal resources.
Statewide drought, hot, dry Santa Ana winds, low humidity and 90-degree-plus temperatures conspired to quintuple the number of wildfires Wednesday, which began with 350 firefighters fighting a 1,500-acre wildfire in San Diego.
But by noon, a second fire had erupted 20 miles away in Carlsbad, burning 100 acres and prompting the evacuation of thousands of people and a resort.
Then, a third ignited on Camp Pendleton, a training base, where a 150-acre fire led to the evacuations of the military's O'Neill Heights Housing, the De Luz Child Development Center and Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary School, the Marines said.
Another fire burned in the community of Fallbrook, adjacent to the military base. Camp Pendleton is the West Coast boot camp for enlistees.
The ferocious fires made for sensational, disturbing viewing.
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