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(CNN) — While the military is lending assistance to battle
wildfires in Southern California, it’s also keeping an eye on the
horizon in case it has to evacuate bases there.

The Rice fire, east of Camp Pendleton, caused the evacuation of the
Fallbrook community.

According to the Pentagon:

About 800 Camp Pendleton Marines, some of them recently back from
Iraq, have been volunteered to fight the massive fires. About 1,500
California National Guardsmen already are fighting fires.

Aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps and Air National Guard and Air
Force Reserves are dropping water and flame retardants on the flames
and providing logistical support.

Six C-130 Modular Airborne FireFighting Systems from Air National
Guard and Air Force Reserve units in North Carolina, Colorado and
Wyoming were on their way to California on Tuesday.

The military also is providing military policemen and medical
personnel to assist with evacuations and staff shelters.

At the same time, military officials are keeping an eye on
approaching wildfires at facilities throughout Southern California.
Watch California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger talk about the crisis »

At Camp Pendleton, which covers about 200 square miles about 40
miles north of downtown San Diego, the approximately 60,000 military
and civilian personnel on base have been told to pack personal
belongings and water and be ready to evacuate on short notice. The
base command advised only essential personnel to report today,
according to a news release from the base.

The Rice fire had forced residents of Fallbrook east of the base to
evacuate, but as of noon Tuesday, “no evacuation is imminent but
we’re keeping a close eye on it,” said Corp. Paul Robbins of the
base public affairs office.

Robbins also said two fires had broken out on the base as of Tuesday
afternoon.

One fire is located in Camp Margarita 33 Area behind the Marine
Corps Air Station, and the second is located in Las Pulgas 43 Area
near Basilone Road.

“We continue to watch these fires closely and advise residents to
maintain awareness of the current fire condition and exercise
caution,” said Col. James B. Seaton III, Commanding Officer, Marine
Corps Base Camp Pendleton..

Only essential personnel were requested to report to duty at Naval
Base San Diego; Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado; and Naval Air
Station in El Centro. Those bases have also set up cots and tents
for evacuees.

As of midday Tuesday, bases in the San Diego area were sheltering
about 2,500 servicemen and women, civilian employees and families.
Officials were sheltering pets at two Navy facilities.

Military officials also warned about 19,000 military families that
they might need to leave if fire approaches. A cruiser, destroyer
and two frigates are in port at Naval Base San Diego for evacuating
families, if necessary.

And the Navy has ordered all personnel on shore to report to their
ships to free up space on land for evacuees.

About 40,000 military and civilian personnel work at the base, which
is home port to about 50 ships.