John Haire, chief of media relations for Edwards Air Force Base, said the base had no test flights at the time of the sightings.
"I think some people have been watching too much 'X-Files,' " he said, referring to the popular show about FBI agents investigating phenomena with no conventional explanation.
Most of the reports came from Riverside and San Bernardino counties, but a few people said they saw the fireball as far west as the Hollywood Hills.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the FAA received no reports of any missing or downed aircraft and the military had not informed the agency of any problems with aircraft or missiles.
The Barstow Fire Protection District dispatched firefighters near the town of Calico, but found no evidence of a meteorite or anything else hitting the ground, officials said.
Rimoftheworld.net, which covers the San Bernardino Mountains area, reported overhearing a fire attack plane relaying that it had detected an emergency beacon near Butler Peak in the Big Bear area.
But no signs of a downed aircraft were found.
--
richard.winton@latimes.com
