Mateo Fire (California)

Burning across San Diego, California, ten miles north of Camp Pendleton, the Mateo Fire has consumed 1,335 acres of six-foot-tall chaparral on federal land after remaining active for 56 days with an average daily growth of approximately 24 acres. Satellites have registered three heat detections near the perimeter over the past 48 hours, while current fire behavior is characterized by minimal activity, flanking, and smoldering under a Type 3 incident command led by a Type 5 IC with 218 personnel assigned.

Human activity sparked the blaze on June 15, which has now reached 100 percent containment at a total cost of 2,119,000 USD. This incident unfolds within a broader regional context where the typical fire season spans from June to October. Nationally, 2,761,076 hectares have burned so far in 2026, marking a figure that is 50 percent below the two-decade average.