While more than 1 million acres of California has been scorched, one major fire hasn’t made headlines.
In fact, outside of Kern County most haven’t heard of the 80,000-acre fire on one of the largest military bases in the world. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake was struck by lightning on Aug. 19, sparking a fast-spreading wildfire — an all too familiar story for Californians right now.
The fire, among the largest in the state over the last month, was reportedly out within a week. Fire suppression was done without the help of outside state agencies that have been fighting fires across Los Angeles, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Napa and Tulare counties.
So, why is no one talking about this fire? It may have to do with an ingrained priority of protecting the mission at China Lake.
“When you work on base what you see and hear there, stays there,” Ridgecrest resident Meris Lueck said. “You don't share it in public for security reasons.”
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China Lake personnel repeatedly declined to report on how many acres have burned or the containment percentages. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), however, first estimated on Aug. 21 that the North Range Fire had burned 50,000-plus acres and was 0% contained.