Wildfire Threatens 500 Homes Northeast Of Bakersfield
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) — A wildfire threatening homes in the southern Sierra Nevada west of California's Lake Isabella grew only slightly overnight and crews expect to make significant progress before hotter, drier weather sets in later in the week.
Firefighters using air tankers and helicopters on Monday are battling the blaze, which has charred about 3.4 square miles of dry brush and timber. Two structures have burned.
Authorities have called on residents of about a thousand threatened homes in the Wofford Heights area to evacuate.
KGET-TV reports the fire is 10 percent contained, but officials say that number is expected to grow throughout the day.
More than 1,100 firefighters are battling the blaze, which broke out Friday in steep, rugged terrain about 40 miles northeast of Bakersfield.
The cause is under investigation.
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