The fire is not likely to spread beyond containment lines, Vandenberg Air Force Base officials added in a statement this morning. The blaze has expanded to the south as it grew to more than 16 square miles.
Advertisement
Ventura County firefighter Ryan Osler was killed in a rollover crash Wednesday morning while responding to the Canyon Fire near Vandenberg Air Force Base. Four firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling the blaze: two on Sunday and two on Monday, officials said.
Weather forecasts indicate that winds tomorrow will blow to the northwest, which will likely aid firefighting efforts by pushing the fire toward areas that have already burned.
Swindle says Osler was in his 30s and a second-generation firefighter.
Crews are gaining ground against a wildfire at a central California military base burning near launch pads used to send satellites into space.
Vandenberg Fire Department Assistant Chief Wayne Seda on Tuesday said crews have been making plans to defend its “critical assets”, including the Atlas V rocket, which was scheduled to take off Sunday and carry a commercial satellite to space. It is 45 percent contained. Over 1,000 firefighters from 50 agencies around the state have been assigned to the wildfire, which began Saturday afternoon in a remote canyon on the base.
Advertisement
Voluntary evacuation orders are in place for about 400 residents of the San Miguelito Canyon area just off the base near Lompoc. The cause is under investigation.
