Crews Continue to Battle Bear Creek Fire

[Update, 5:36 p.m.]: Fire crews have established a barrier around the now 700-acre Bear Creek Fire, said base officials in a press release issued an hour ago, using a combination of roads, fire breaks, and back burns. The blaze is reportedly 50 percent contained at this point, and some personnel have been released.

“We are optimistic that we will be close to full containment by the end of the day,” said Dan Ardoin, Vandenberg Fire Department operations division chief.

[Original Report]: The Bear Creek Fire, which broke out at Vandenberg Air Force Base yesterday afternoon, is now 15 percent contained, said officials this morning. It has burned approximately 320 acres so far, and was reportedly sparked by an arcing power line.

The six structures that were threatened by the blaze yesterday, said base officials, have been saved and there are no other buildings currently at risk. Around 170 Vandenberg Fire Department personnel and other supporting emergency responders resumed their work at 9 a.m. this morning.

Six crews had monitored the fire overnight, said officials, and no injuries have been reported. Power to the area was cut when multiple power poles that supply electricity to the south part of the base were burned, but it has since been restored.

Officials reported yesterday that a 400-acre containment field had been set up around the fire. It’s not clear at this time if the blaze remains within that area.

Check out this link to watch firefighting efforts.