Crash kills firefighter assigned to California blaze

LOS ANGELES (AP) – A firefighter among those battling a central California wildfire died Wednesday and another firefighter was hurt when the water tanker truck they were in overturned near Vandenberg Air Force base, officials said.

The Canyon Fire, now in its fifth day, has grown to 12,353 acres and is 50 percent contained, said officials with Vandenberg Air Force Base, where the blaze is located.

A Ventura County firefighter died in the line of duty while working on the Canyon Fire near Lompoc Wednesday morning. California Highway Patrol officers with the Buellton Station are investigating the crash.

Ventura County is among several departments that have sent crews to the 19-square-mile fire at Vandenberg.

There were no indications that the fire on undeveloped and rugged mountainous land threatened any structures.

The fire boundary is relatively stable as of late Tuesday night, as the fire continues to burn along part of the south-east ridgelines, Air Force base fire officials said. Its cause was under investigation.

The wind is forecast to blow northwest, according to authorities at the base, and that wind is expected to aid firefighting efforts by directing the fire towards already burned areas.

Osler was a second-generation firefighter, Swindle said.

There were representatives from the Ventura County Fire Department at the scene, who were also assigned to the Canyon Fire, Zaniboni said.