Firefighters battling a 12,000 acre brush fire in Santa Barbara County are facing a new complication. The Canyon Fire on the south part of Vandenberg Air Force Base is now 70% contained, but at around 2 p.m. today, a new unrelated fire broke out on the north end of the base.
Some of the more than 1100 firefighters and other personnel fighting the Canyon Fire have been diverted to the new blaze.
Several buildings on the base have been ordered evacuated as a precaution from the new fire. Firefighters say it appears the wind down a power line, triggering the new blaze.
Meanwhile, memorial plans are being formalized for a Ventura County firefighter assigned to the Canyon Fire who died in a traffic accident yesterday. With family members and fellow firefighters still reeling from the death of Ryan Osler, funeral arrangements are still pending. Osler was an 18 year department veteran, and leaves behind a wife, and two children.
