New fire erupts at Vandenberg, prompting evacuations
Update 8:40 p.m.
Officials said the North Base fire was estimated to be up to 300 acres and continued to not be a threat to base housing.
Mandatory evacuations had been issued for the following buildings on base, with people asked to head to the commissary: 12000, 12006, 7000 complex, gym, Airman and Family Readiness Center, FAMCAMP, Flight Line Complex, and POL building.
Update 7 p.m.
Crews from the nearby Canyon Fire headed up to help fight the vegetation fire that started Thursday afternoon on the North Base of Vandenberg Air Force Base.
All incoming traffic to the base was closed indefinitely, officials announced around 4 p.m. The Utah Gate is open only for base housing residents, they said.
Some residents reported being turned away from the Utah gate at the base and officials told people to try again, saying “the miscommunication has been cleared up.”
The North Base fire, being called the Airfield Road Fire by Vandenberg Officials and Washington Fire on emergency radios, started around 2 p.m. near the Communications Squadron building.
Update 3:56 p.m.
The vegetation fire that started on the North Base of Vandenberg Air Force Base on Thursday afternoon was spreading south and prompting some evacuations, officials said.
“The fire is spreading south due to high winds,” officials said of the North Base fire in an update around 3:40 p.m. “Buildings that are at risk are being evacuated.”
Officials said smoke from the fire will be visible from base housing and throughout North Base, but there is no risk to base housing.
Original story
A vegetation fire started on the North Base of Vandenberg Air Force Base on Thursday afternoon, unrelated to the 12,000-plus-acre Canyon Fire burning on the South Base, officials said.
The fire started about 2 p.m. near the Communications Squadron building, Vandenberg officials said in a statement.
Smoke from the small fire will be visible from base housing and throughout North Base, but there is no risk to personnel, they said.
People are recommended to avoid the area between 13th Street, Washington Avenue and Airfield Road, officials said.
There are strong winds in the area, forecasted to last through Thursday.
Base officials are handling the fire response but did ask to use Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit Copter 3 for the fire, Capt. Dave Zaniboni said.
No further details were immediately available.
Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
This story was originally published September 22, 2016 at 2:53 PM with the headline "New fire erupts at Vandenberg, prompting evacuations."