The Cabrillo High School Aquarium’s first Open House of the school year will include a benefit for the family of fallen Ventura County firefighter Ryan Osler from 6 – 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 28. Aquarium students will accept donations, which will be donated to a special fund established by the Ventura County Professional Firefighters’ Association that will go to his family.

The event will include a first look at many new animals in the Aquarium, as well the debut of the new Tropical Wetlab, which will be used for cultivating corals and other sensitive warm water organisms.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Osler was killed while he and another Ventura County firefighter were traveling in a water tender around 6:20 a.m. on Highway 246. As it approached the roundabout at Purisima Road, the truck struck the curb and overturned in dark and foggy conditions, the patrol said.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department Capt. Dave Zaniboni said Osler, the passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, whose name hasn’t been released, was treated and released from the Lompoc Valley Medical Center.

Osler began his career in 1998 as a member of the Ventura County Fire Department’s hand crew, officials said.

When the white hearse left the Santa Barbara County Coroner’s Office on Wednesday afternoon, local firefighters from all around the county stood in honor of Osler on Highway 101 overpasses as the hearse made its way to Ventura County.

Osler is survived by his wife, Jennifer, their 12-year-old daughter, Amanda, and their 11-year-old son, Brandon.

Located in the front of the Cabrillo High School campus, the Cabrillo High School Aquarium has worked since 1986 to promote stewardship of our oceans through a student-run, cross-curricular, project-based learning environment. The Aquarium’s current 6,000 square foot facility opened in 2002 and now features over 20 live and static displays, maintained and hosted by Cabrillo High School students. The program welcomes over 7,000 visitors annually. For more information, contact Aquarium Director Greg Eisen at eisen.greg@lusd.org or (805) 742-2888. Regular Aquarium updates can also be found on the Aquarium’s Facebook page.

There has been a Go Fund Me account set up in Osler’s name for his family. If you wish to donate click https://www.gofundme.com/RyanOsler

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A second vegetation fire named the Washington Fire broke out on the north side of Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, according to fire officials.

The fire started Thursday afternoon around 2 p.m, and is unrelated to the Canyon Fire burning on the south end of the base. The fire started due to downed power lines, said base officials.

They are asking personnel in the area to stay away and they evacuated several buildings, however no houses are currently threatened.

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The Canyon Fire burning on Vandenberg Air Force Base has now consumed 10,542 acres as of Tuesday, according to Vandenberg Fire officials.

The started at 5:20 p.m. Saturday, September 17, near Arguello and Santa Ynez roads on the south side of the military base. Containment is at 18 percent as crews have to also battle rising temperatures and gusty wind conditions. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The wildfire forced Vandenberg officials to call off Sunday morning’s launch an Atlas V rocket, which has now been rescheduled for September 26 at the earliest depending on fire containment.

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The Canyon Fire has charred more than 4,500 acres on the Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc as of Monday, according to fire officials.

The started at 5:20 p.m. Saturday, September 17, near Arguello and Santa Ynez roads on the south side of the military base. Containment remains at zero percent Monday morning as crews have to also battle hot weather and wind conditions. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The wildfire forced Vandenberg officials to call off Sunday morning’s launch an Atlas V rocket and the satellite.

The fire smoke plume was visible from the Santa Ynez Valley and north county.

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