Vandenberg Fire Department Conducts Prescribed Burns
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Steven Sjaastad, 30th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, left, and Michael Gonzales, 30th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, right, extinguish a prescribed burn at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., June 25, 2024. The Vandenberg Fire Department conducted a prescribed burn over 100 acres of grassland and coastal sage scrub. This series of controlled fires, essential for firefighter training and wildfire prevention, was coordinated with several agencies, including the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and various air-optimal conditions to direct smoke away from populated areas and safeguard local watersheds from soil loss and sedimentation. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olga Houtsma)