Firefighter dies in crash on way to air base blaze
A Ventura County firefighter was killed and another was injured early Wednesday in a rollover crash near Lompoc as the pair were hauling water to the Canyon fire at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
The firefighters were assigned to a water tender by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and headed to the 12,353-acre wildfire about 6:20 a.m., when the rollover crash occurred on westbound Highway 246, said Capt. Mike Lindbery, spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department.
The water tender hit a curb in a roundabout at Purisima Road and overturned, according to the California Highway Patrol. The firefighters were wearing seat belts.
When CHP officers arrived, they found one firefighter trapped in the passenger seat inside the water tender. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Ventura County Fire Department identified him as fire engineer Ryan Osler.
The second firefighter, who has not been identified, was taken to ahospital, Lindbery said. He suffered minor injuries, authorities said.
The firefighters were among more than 1,000 personnel assigned to the massive blaze.
On Tuesday, Air Force officials said fire crews were making progress on the wildfire, but officials are concerned that stronger winds expected later this week could rekindle flames.
The blaze has remained active along the northern portion, but cooler temperatures allowed firefighters to build lines around the fire, Air Force officials said in a statement Wednesday. The fire was 50% contained.
An aircraft with infrared heat detection capability was expected to fly over the Canyon fire overnight to determine whether firefighters had made significant gains, Air Force officials said.
The wildfire, which started Saturday in a remote canyon, has knocked out power to several buildings and has halted railway service through the sprawling base.
Four firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling the blaze: two on Sunday and two on Monday, officials said.
Northwest winds Wednesday are expected to push the fire toward alreadyscorched areas, allowing crews to intensify their firefighting efforts.
“Fire crews will concentrate their efforts from the northwest portion of the fire area in order to stem the fire’s spread in that direction, and to provide additional protection for the base’s space launch complexes,” the Air Force said in a statement.
But increased winds Thursday could kick up flames, so Air Force officials said fire crews will be monitoring hot spots.
Vandenberg Fire Department Assistant Chief Wayne Seda on Tuesday said crews have been making plans to defend “critical assets,” including the Atlas V rocket that was scheduled to take off Sunday and carry a commercial satellite to space.
He said the rocket was not in danger, although “it’s a concern.”