In less than a week’s time, Santa Barbara County firefighters have doused the flames of a brush fire burning near Vandenberg Air Force Base.
As of Oct. 5, the Pine Canyon fire was at 100 percent containment. Approximately 617 acres burned, according to joint press releases from Vandenberg Air Force Base and the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
In an interview with the Sun, base spokesman Senior Airman Bryan Boyette said “two power lines bumped into each other and sparked” the fire.
On Sept. 30, Vandenberg personnel reported the blaze burning at around 11:45 a.m. at the main gate of the base along both sides of Highway 1, according to information from the 30th Space Wing’s public affairs unit.
Upon arriving, firefighters faced hot, dry weather conditions and powerful winds. Officials also reported downed power lines in the area, which caused a power outage on the base. Officials started a partial evacuation and put in place a structure protection plan for Vandenberg Village, Allan Hancock College, and Lompoc prison—if the fire crossed Santa Lucia Road.
None of that was needed, however, thanks to the work of an extensive firefighting crew—including dozers, hand crews, and engines—and the help of improving weather conditions over a several-day period.
No injuries or damaged facilities were reported, and Vandenberg officials said the fire had no impact on the base’s ability to carry out its range and spacelift missions.
Operations are back to normal on base, though base residents are being reminded to limit outdoor activity due to poor air quality.
This article appears in Oct 8-15, 2009.