Latest news with #DemocratFire
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Highway 178 reopens with fire at 50% containment
Highway 178 reopened Monday night after being closed for a day as crews worked to contain a brush fire in the Kern River Canyon. The 895-acre Democrat Fire was 50% contained Tuesday afternoon, according to Sequoia National Forest spokesperson Amy Masi. "Fire is still staffed 24 hours," Masi said in a text message. "Forward rate of spread has been stopped." The Democrat Fire started at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday about a mile north of the Upper Richbar picnic area along Highway 178 and grew to 895 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CalFire. Crews from the U.S. Forest Service and Kern County Fire Department had the fire 30% contained by Monday afternoon. Highway 178 reopened at 10 p.m. Monday night, according to the California Highway Patrol's Bakersfield office, and was closed again for maintenance in the early morning Tuesday. Kern County Fire Department spokesperson Jon Drucker previously told The Californian crews had initially responded to a call of a vehicle accident on Highway 178 but found no evidence of a crash. The cause of the fire will be investigated by the U.S. Forest Service.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hwy 178 reopens as Democrat Fire burns 895 acres; Tuesday morning closure scheduled
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Highway 178 reopened Monday night as firefighters continue to work on containing the Democrat Fire in the Kern River canyon. California Highway Patrol officials said, however, Highway 178 is scheduled to close again Tuesday between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Motorists are advised to plan their travel accordingly. Democrat Fire burning through Kern River Canyon Highway 178 reopened at around 8:45 p.m. on Monday after the brush fire burning near Upper Richbar Picnic Area forced the closure on Sunday at around 4 p.m. The fire has burned 895 acres and is at 30% containment, according to Cal Fire. The fire broke out Sunday at around 3:30 p.m. following a report of crash involving a pickup truck against the mountainside along Highway 178. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Highway 178 remains closed into Day 2 of Democrat Fire burning through Kern River Canyon
BAKERSFIELD, CA. (KGET) — Cars were lined up early Monday morning, stuck in Bakersfield trying to get to Lake Isabella. Asension Badillo waited an hour hoping to get to Lake Isabella, but ended up missing a day of work and turned around to Bakersfield. Larry Bly has lived in Lake Isabella almost 30 years, and sees fire closures often. 'Uhh, it happens, you know, we're in fire season right now so…normally it's when somebody wrecks, goes over the edge,' said Bly. Highway 178 remained closed well into day two of the Democrat Fire. The blaze has been going since 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Father of California bombing suspect says son burned down their house The start of the fire is around 10 miles in westbound from the base of the Kern River Canyon. The cause is still under investigation. 'As far as we know there've been no injuries, there are no fatalities,' said Amy Masi, Public Information Officer with the US Forest Service. 'Right now we don't have any significant structures threatened.' Two months from the anniversary of the Borel Fire, many fear this could turn into a disaster of that magnitude. The Forest Service says there's not much in common between the fires. 'We have people working in the air and on the ground and it kicks lose rocks,' said Masi. 'Same as if we had a flood, we have all kinds of hazards on the hillside, we don't know what those are going to be until we're done with the fire fight.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Highway 178 closes as fire crews attack Democrat Fire from above
LAKE ISABELLA, Calif. (KGET) — Multiple fire crews scrambled to the scene of a wildfire in the Kern River Canyon Sunday after reports of a pick-up truck crashing into the mountainside. Authorities say the fire started shortly after 3:30 p.m. At last report, the Democrat Fire has burned 450 acres with zero containment. No word yet on any injuries. The fire quickly spread up a hill near recent road construction and burned up the ridge, consuming more than 400 acres in four hours. Firefighters, including hand crews with the U.S. Forest Service, are working on containment in difficult terrain. Luckily, they have a helicopter. Flame retardant is used to try to slow the fire's progression while the helicopter pilot tries to steady the chopper in heavy winds, making it difficult to hit the target — but the pilot hits his mark. CityServe hosts Volunteer Day to aid Southern California fire victims Air attack has requested two large air tankers, two type three tankers and three type one helicopters be deployed to the fire. One very large air tanker is reported to be en route from Arizona. The canyon was closed to traffic at 4 p.m. Sunday, and Melly Mel was stuck at the roadblock. 'I was off to sell some merch. You know what I'm saying, some business, some clothing,' said Mel. 'I got a clothing line called, 'Inkimore.' I-N-K-I-M-O-R-E, it's on Instagram. You can check it out. So, usually I come over here. I got some dealings in Kernville. So, I be out there and stuff.' Video from a Cal Fire feed shows the fire burning between 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., increasing in size. The Kern River Canyon remained closed overnight, according to the California Highway Patrol. Mel said he is going to try for Kernville again Monday. 'Probably go back home and chill,' said Mel. 'Watch Netflix or something.' The cause of the fire is under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
