BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — UPDATE(9:00 P.M.): California Interagency Incident Management Team (CIIMT) 11 and the Kern County Fire Department reported that the "Borel Fire" has spread to 50,126 Acres and is 0% contained.
UPDATE (7:00 P.M.): A new evacuation warning has been issued for residents of the Kern River Canyon/Sand Canyon/Black Bill Peak/Pampa Peak and
The zones are as follows:
Animal Services will assist with sheltering companion animals at the shelter.
If you have physical limitations and require evacuation assistance, please call the Aging & Adult Services hotline at 1-855-264-6565. Services may not be guaranteed after 9:30 pm tonight.
BOREL FIRE INFORMATION CALL CENTER: 661-837-2660
Link to map of the affected area and more detailed road boundaries for each zone here.
UPDATE (11:00 A.M.): The "Borel Fire" has burned 49,273 acres in less than four days. It is 0% contained.
Kern County Fire Department has an informational call center live and available now for residents living in the evacuation areas.
That number is 661-873-2660. Anyone living in an evacuation area who needs any type of assistance, animal-related or not, can contact this number and speak with a live person to be connected with an agency that may be able to help.
California Interagency Incident Management Team (CIIMT) 11 and the Kern County Fire Department said firefighters are actively engaging the fire using both direct and indirect tactics.
At the same time, law enforcement continues evacuation efforts as the fire moves eastward.
The fire slightly slowed its progression due to a change in fuel complexion as vegetation went from dry grass to green brush.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect through 11 p.m. Sunday for low relative humidity and elevated winds.
UPDATE (2:00 P.M.): Authorities held a press conference Saturday to provide an update on the current situation and the actions being taken to combat the "Borel Fire."
The fire has burned 38,446 acres and is 0% contained.
Crews are working three fires in the area. They are the Trout, Long and the largest is the "Borel Fire." It tripled in size yesterday and ran through the communities of Havilah and Piute Meadows
Officials don't have a count of the number of structures that were burned but there was a significant property loss.
Several heat-related and minor injuries have been reported so far. 1,200 personnel are on the scene assisting with the firefight.
There are still several access roads in and out of the Kern River Valley for those needing to leave. Kern County Fire Department said Highway 155, Mt. 99, and Hwy 178 to the east are still open and can be used for travel.
Go to Genasys Protect website to identify the zone you reside in.
This is a developing story check back for updates.
UPDATE (11:00 A.M.): The U.S. Forest Service - Sequoia National Forest reports that the "Borel Fire" has now burned 31,982 acres in less than three days. It is 0% contained.
Thursday night it spread five miles and advanced another six miles on Friday.
Firefighters deployed around homes and dozers working to construct control lines, and the fire swept through the community of Havilah and Piute Meadow Ranches.
The northernmost edge of the fire remains south of the Cleer Creek subdivision. The fire is spreading southward toward Walker Basin and southeastward toward Thompson Canyon.
The USFS said Saturday's fire behavior is expected to be, once again, very extreme under long-term red-flag-warning weather conditions.
The following zones are under an evacuation order:
The following zones are under an evacuation warning:
Go to Genasys Protect to identify the zone you reside in.
UPDATE (10:19 P.M.): The Borel Fire has burned 14,550 acres, according to the U.S. Forest Service. It is 0% contained.
UPDATE (8:54 P.M.): KCFD said the following zones are under EVACUATION ORDERS:
An evacuation warning has been prompted for zone KRN-743.
Officials said Caliente Bodfish Road has been closed at Kern Canyon Road.
Evacuees from the Bodfish and Breckenridge area will only be able to travel north on Caliente Bodfish Road to the shelter in Lake Isabella.
Evacuees from the Havilah and Walker Basin Area will still be able to access Caliente Bodfish Road, South of the Tehachapi shelter location.
UPDATE (5:58 P.M.): KCFD said the following area is under EVACUATION ORDERS:
KRN-747-B
The following area is under an evacuation WARNING:
KRN-748
Residents are asked to use Caliente Bodfish Road south of the Tehachapi area when evacuating the area.
Evacuees are asked to not access Caliente Creek Road.
UPDATE (3:41 P.M.): KCFD said the following areas are under EVACUATION ORDERS in the Kern River Canyon area:
UPDATE (2:47 P.M.): According to Cal OES FIRIS, the Borel Fire was mapped at 7,951 acres.
UPDATE (9:36 A.M.): According to FIRMS, or Fire Information for Resource Management System, the Borel Fire has burned 3,092 acres.
UPDATE (JULY 26 8:55 A.M.): Evacuation ORDERS has been issued for zones KRN-403-A, KRN-737, and KRN-738.
Evacuation WARNINGS has been issued for KRN-403-B, KRN-740, KRN-741, and KRN-742.
To see the Genasys Protect map, click here.
UPDATE (JULY 25): Evacuation WARNINGS has also been issued for zones, KRN-403-B, KERN-736, KRN 737, KRN-738.
UPDATE (4:15 P.M.): An evacuation ORDER has been issued for Zone KRN-403-A. This area covers:
Those in the area is asked to leave now.
The Borel Fire has burned 941 acres with 0% containment, according to the Sequoia National Forest.
UPDATE (JULY 25 2:20 P.M.): The CHP's website said as of 2:17 p.m., the canyon closure will remain in place through the night.
UPDATE (JULY 25 9:30 A.M.): CHP released more information on the deadly solo-vehicle crash that left a 46-year-old man dead. The crash grew into a wildfire, shutting down Highway 178.
The California Highway Patrol said on July 24, 2024, at around 12:50 p.m., officers were called to a report of a solo-vehicle crash on Highway 178, west of Democrat Road.
CHP said a preliminary investigation found that the 46-year-old man was driving a Chevy eastbound on Highway 178, west of Democrat Road, at an undetermined speed.
For reasons still under investigation, the driver lost control of the vehicle causing him to leave the north portion of the roadway. The Chevrolet continued out of control in a northwesterly direction where it overturned down the embankment.
During the crash, the driver was ejected from the Chevrolet. He sustained major injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 178 through the Kern Canyon area were closed due to a brush fire igniting as a result of this crash. The closure remains in effect and traffic flow will be restored upon containment of the brush fire.
The use of alcohol and/or drugs as a factor in this crash is under investigation.
According to CHP's website, as of 9:30 a.m., Highway 178 remains closed.
Any witnesses with information are asked to call California Highway Patrol, Bakersfield Area.
UPDATE (9:22 P.M.):
Kern County Fire Department said the evacuation warning has been refined. Highway 178 at the mouth of the canyon will remain closed overnight, according to CHP's website.
Roads are open to the public and unaffected by the evacuation warning in the following areas:
UPDATE (5:38 P.M.): An evacuation warning has been issued for the Borel Fire for the area of KRN-403.
The area covers:
The Kern County Fire Department said the fire has burned 941 acres.
UPDATE (3:25 P.M.): The Kern County Fire Department said they are battling a growing wildfire in the area of Highway 178 and Democrat Road.
KCFD said the incident is being managed by the Sequoia National Forest. The fire is being called the Borel Fire.
Firefights are working off of Highway 178.
Highway 178 through the Kern Canyon is closed after a vehicle fire left at least one person dead Wednesday afternoon.
The California Highway Patrol’s website said on July 24, 2024, at around 12:52 p.m., there was a report of a vehicle on fire on Highway 178 near Democrat Road.
The website said the vehicle went over the side of the highway and down to the river. It said the fire jumped to the westbound side and hillside.
Lanes are closed in both directions, according to Caltrans.
The website listed the crash as a fatality. It is unknown who or how many people were involved in the crash.
This is a developing story.