Tim Murdoch observes the base camp Oct. 25 at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Mr. Murdoch, an engineer from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., has been assigned to the base camp as the camp manager. Vandenberg AFB currently has 12 firefighters dispatched throughout Southern California in support of more than 26 fires that have burned more than 1,800 homes and 550,000 acres. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)