by Senior Airman Steve Bauer
30th Space Wing Public Affairs
8/11/2011 - VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Approximately 18 firefighters from the Vandenberg Fire Department and the Vandenberg Hotshots deployed to the scene of the Alisos Canyon brush fire in Santa Barbara County at approximately 3:30 p.m. Aug. 10.
The fire that began near Highway 166 is now controlled and contained at roughly 250 acres, said Jesse Hendricks, Vandenberg Hotshots superintendent.
There are no reported injuries.
One building was destroyed during the brush fire.
The base's firefighters deployed three fire engines, two 10-man crew carriers and a mission support truck to combat the fire.
Fire crews worked in the air and on the ground to isolate and extinguish hot spots throughout the Alisos Canyon region to prevent the risk of potential flare ups.
The Vandenberg crew left the fire with enough time to rest and return to work to support of the Minotaur IV launch from Space Launch Complex-8 at 7:45 a.m. Aug. 11.
"The Vandenberg Fire Department has a direct mutual aid agreement with the surrounding firefighting agencies," said Hendricks. "This allows the support from local agencies to help each other out by assisting with fire suppression and emergency response. It is very important for us to uphold our end of the agreement. This is because, in the case of a disaster or emergency at Vandenberg, we could call upon our neighbors for assistance."
Fire departments from Santa Barbara County, Los Padres National Forest and Cal Fire also responded to the Alisos Canyon brush fire.
