Wildfire scorches part of Vandenberg AFB in California

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, California (CNN) -- A wildfire of more than 4,000 acres burned out of control in Santa Barbara County, California, scorching parts of Vandenberg Air Force Base and forcing the evacuation of 150 residents from the town of Casmalia.

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)     MESSAGE BOARD Nature's wrath

Hot, dry and windy conditions are expected on Thursday.

"This is a big fire for Vandenberg, it's the biggest we've seen in years," Master Sgt. Ty Foster told CNN.

Two fires are burning on the high desert base: one on the eastern boundary and the second in the central part of the facility. No "essential" facilities have been lost, he said Wednesday.

"Our firefighters are battling it back," said Foster. The only area evacuated on the base was the equestrian facility.

Some 9,000 people live on the base which, at 98,400 acres, is roughly twice the size of Washington, D.C.

The fire began at about 2:15 p.m. PDT on Wednesday. Hot, dry conditions, winds out of the southeast and dry chaparral fueled the blaze and the fire spread quickly.

All active-duty military and civilian firefighters at the base joined forces with Santa Barbara County firefighters and other units to battle the blaze.

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Wildland Fire Potential Assessment (through Oct 5)
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)
  • Texas Wildland Fires 2000

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