Latest news RSS Feed
Print Story
E-mail StoryArmy of firefighters on Piute fire grows as spread slows
| Wednesday, Jul 2 2008 9:53 PM
Last Updated: Thursday, Jul 3 2008 10:23 AM
The Piute fire in the mountains east of Bakersfield has more than quadrupled in size since early Monday, and it’s probably going to get bigger before it’s contained, officials say.
Our readers recommend:
Loading Stories
Photos:
Smoke and flames are seen from Kelso Valley Road, Tuesday evening from the Piute Fire, near Lake Isabella, which has burned more than 11,000 acres The cause is still under investigation.
The Piute Fire burns about seven miles up Erskine Creek Road, with fire equipment parked at Kern Valley High School in Lake Isabella, where the fire base camp is located. U.S. Forest Service hot shot crews head out to the fire after dinner at the fire camp. Kern County engines are lined up also and ready when needed.
The wildfire had burned more than 13,926 acres by 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Kern County Fire Department. The blaze was remains just 5 percent contained, a 6 percent decrease from Tuesday. The fire grew only about 400 acres Wednesday.
“Right now weather conditions are in our favor,” said Kimberly Mullins, an information officer for the county fire department. “It grew very little throughout the day, but you never can tell what will happen next.”
An army of firefighting personnel called in to battle the blaze stood at approximately 1,323, Mullins said.
“Personnel have been released from other fires throughout the state that are getting under control,” bringing more firefighters to help against the Piute fire, she said.
No structures were damaged Wednesday. Seven structures, six outbuildings and one abandoned cabin have been damaged or destroyed.
The fire began Saturday around 3 p.m. and by Monday morning had reached 2,500 acres. The cause is still under investigation.
On Monday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a state of emergency in Kern County, a move that was expected to help mobilize additional state firefighting resources and personnel.
With hundreds of wildfires burning across the state, fire officials have been forced to pick their battles, routing scarce resources to those viewed as priority fires.
As of Wednesday evening, the governor had declared emergencies in 10 counties.
Officials are strongly advising residents in the path of the Piute fire to leave their homes and seek shelter in other areas.
Firefighters expected to contain the fire by July 17. The Piute fire so far has cost $3.6 million, according to KCFD.