Erskine Wildfire in Lake Isabella [MAPS]: 2 Killed and 100+ Buildings Lost in Kern County; Latest Updates, Casualties and Progress
Two People Dead and Around 80 Homes Destroyed in Kern Country Fire
Authorities have confirmed a wildfire near Lake Isabel in Erskine since Thursday, which has reached about 30,000 acres, destroying about 100 structures including homes with two people killed and three injured.
The wildfire prompting Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency in the area. At present, the cause of the fire has yet to be found out and is under investigation.
Mother Nature Not Cooperating
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The gusty winds on Friday had made it difficult for firefighters to control the blaze. By Friday afternoon, around 800 firefighters are on the scene.
"The mountainous terrain, five years of drought and wind gusts of over 20 mph all drove a fire over 11 miles in 13 hours," said county fire Chief Brian Marshall. Three firefighters are reported to have suffered smoke inhalation.
"Hopefully Mother Nature will cooperate and the winds will lessen and allow our firefighters a fighting chance," Marshall added.
Where to Evacuate
Evacuations have been made for the areas of South Fork, Bella Vista, Mountain Mesa, Lakeland Estates, Squirrel Valley, Weldon, Onyx, South Lake, Yankee Canyon, Kern Country Lake and around Kelso Valley Road.
Red Cross has set up an evacuation area at Kernville Elementary School on Thursday. Other evacuation centers are located at Lake Isabella's senior center and Kern Valley High School (KVHS). Latest figures of people evacuated from their homes were about 2,000.
Compromised Reception and Red Flad Warning
According to Kern County Fire engineer Phil Neufeld, cell service around the area has been "compromised." AT&T mobile phone service has been out. Verizon repair crews have been on scene to run the company's emergency generators which fuel is almost out.
At KVHS, people have been lining up to use landlines to reach out to their loved ones outside the affected area, who many have been searching for their loved ones at the evacuation center.
The Kern Valley Hospital and the hospital in Mountain Mesa were not evacuated. California Highway Patrol said there is a road closure at McCray and Dogwood in Mountain Mesa with reports the blaze has jumped Highway 178.
A red-flag warning was in place for the Kern County mountains due to hot temperatures, low humidity, gusty winds and dry vegetation, according to the National Weather Service. Weather is expected to worsen over the weekend. Red-flag warnings are issued to alert land management agencies and firefighters about the possible onset of wildfire activity.
