California's Vandenberg AFB remains open as wildfire rages

The fire raging at Vandenberg Air Force Base has not forced an evacuation

In this story: Base is nation's western spaceport Fires burning in six states RELATED STORIES, SITES

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, California (CNN) -- A wildfire that has burned 11,000 acres at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Southern California did not force the base to be closed and evacuated, a spokesman said.

A Titan Two rocket carrying a NASA and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's new environmental satellite is still scheduled to be launched from the base on Monday,.

Air Force Master Sgt. Ty Foster said measures were taken to reduce base traffic and give firefighters better access the fire.

"We did order minimal staffing today at some base operations, and the school on base was closed just for today," Foster said.

RESOURCES Click here to view the National Interagency Fire Center's map of large wildland fires Click here to view satellite images of the wildfires (NOAA Web site)     CNN WEATHER FORECAST Vandenberg Air Force Base     MESSAGE BOARD Nature's wrath

Foster said flames came within a half mile of a group of 657 homes on the base's eastern range, but firefighters were able to repel them. There are more than 2,000 homes on the 98,400-acre base, which has a population of about 9,000.

Foster said the base's main mission is as the United States' western spaceport. Intercontinental ballistic missile test launches are conducted there, as well as commercial space launches.

The base's missile launch pad is used also in tests for the controversial National Missile Defense program.

More than 900 firefighters from local, state and federal agencies battled the fire. Foster said it began Wednesday afternoon, when a small brush fire went out of control, fueled by dry weather, strong winds and highly combustible eucalyptus trees.

Wednesday evening, 52 horses were removed from the base's equine facilities as a precaution. The horses were all brought back to their stables Thursday.

At least 150 people were evacuated Wednesday in the nearby town of Casmalia.

By Thursday, the fire had grown to 11,000 acres but cooler, wetter weather had moved in. Authorities told CNN they may let residents return if the fire danger lessens in the Santa Barbara County town.

Nationwide, 17 wildfires were reported in six states Thursday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. One fire was burning in Arizona, four in California, two in Idaho, five in Montana, four in Oklahoma, and one in Wyoming.

The number represents an increase from Wednesday, when 10 fires were reported.

So far this year, wildfires throughout the United States have burned 6,653,607 acres (10,396 square miles), the fire center said Tuesday.

By comparison, the land area of New Jersey is 7,418 square miles; Massachusetts is 7,838 square miles; New Hampshire is 8,969 square miles; Vermont is 9,249 square miles; and Maryland is 9,774 square miles.

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Texas takes lead in number of U.S. wildfires
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Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Wildland Fire Potential Assessment (through Oct 5)
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)
  • Texas Wildland Fires 2000

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