CNN iReport

Tuesday 11:04hrs, I was northbound on I 5 in San Diego county that traverses Marine Corps Station Camp Pendleton, when I noted smoke in the direction I was headed.

I first stopped at a rest area to take some still photos; within two minutes of my photo session, US Border patrol officers began advising parked truckers, auto travellers and those who stay at the rest area to evacuate.

Upon being told by the Officers that the fire was half a mile from the northbound side of the freeway rest area, I reentered the northbound freeway, hoping to get through before an immenent closure happened.

Passing through the smoke, (included some still photos of the difficulty in safe driving on the freeway), so I exited and turned around at Las Pulgas Rd and changed my course southbound on I 5. The only vehicle on southbound I 5 from the Las Pulgas onramp, was the vigilant Fire official. The next time I see any vehicles on southbound is at another rest area a few miles down the road.

Two items that left a very eery sensation was the amount of heat that I felt at least 75 meters away from the fire and through the car door and window and the emptiness of no cars on a normally well travelled interstate freeway.

You can also see all northbound traffice halted at the off ramp of the rest area that I left just minutes before.

At no time was I disregarding my safety during the video taping of this report.

R W

Carlsbad, CA