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E-mail StoryThree fires erupt, closing Highway 178
| Wednesday, Aug 1 2007 10:23 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Aug 1 2007 10:23 PM
A 200-acre fire near the mouth of the Kern River Canyon closed Highway 178 on Wednesday.
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Kern County helitack crew #408 head up the Kern River Canyon to make fire lines where needed on Wednesday's brush fire that closed Highway 178 through the canyon for several hours due to fire equipment and rocks falling onto the highway.
A helicopter makes a water drop on the other side of this mountain where the brush fire in the Kern River Canyon was spreading to on Wednesday afternoon. The canyon was closed for several hours due to fire equipment on the road and rocks falling down the steep hillsides.
Firefighters responded to three separate fires at about 11 a.m., said Capt. Doug Johnston, public information officer for the Kern County Fire Department. The fires were located south of the highway and about a half-mile east of the mouth of the lower canyon.
The fires were apparently caused by a faulty exhaust system by a vehicle, Johnston said.
Two fires burned out, but the third blaze went up the side a mountain, Johnston said.
About 120 firefighters along with helicopters and air tankers battled the fire, Johnston said. Investigators estimated the fire was controlled by Wednesday night.
Highway 178 reopened at 4 p.m. and was scheduled to close down for a short time at 6 p.m., Johnston said. It reopened around 7:30 p.m. There were no injuries.
Anyone with information about any suspicious activity in the area regarding the fire is asked to call the Kern County Fire Department at 1-877 FIRE TIP.