While East Housing demolition work started months ago at Vandenberg Air Force Base, the destruction ramped up in recent days. More than 600 homes, each some 40 years old and deemed too dilapidated to renovate, have been slated for demolition.

Work began earlier this year as crews placed a chain link fence around the area, removed toilets and took other measures to get ready for the arrival of heavy equipment.

After last summer's announcement, the military families either moved to housing within the main section of Vandenberg or to off-base housing, or relocated to new assignments. Many of the homes on the main base have been built within the past dozen years or so through a multi-year housing improvement project to replace older structures.