OCFA Evaluates Earthquake-Rattled Buildings At Weapon's Center

ORANGE COUNTY, CA —Orange County Fire Authority Firefighters and heavy rescue experts are on their way home from Kern County following the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that shook the region on Friday.

Orange County Fire Authority's Heavy Rescue 6 drove north to assist in the structural damage assessment on the China Lake Naval Weapons Center in Ridgecrest, Capt. John Muir, a spokesperson for the OCFA, told Patch.

After the series of large earthquakes rattled the China Lake Naval Weapons Center, that facility evacuated all non-essential personnel, they announced over social media.

"China Lake is still not mission capable until further notice," they reported over Facebook. "Security protocols remain in effect."

All non-essential active duty drilling reservists, civilian employees, and dependents were told to evacuate to a radius of 100 miles, safe distance, according to the facility. Only Mission Essential Personnel were allowed within the area.

During the evacuation, which is still underway, the OCFA crew searched and assessed structural damage at the facility," OCFA Capt. John Muir told Patch.

The crew was released at 9 a.m. on Monday.