Photos by Christina Dennys, Patrick Ray, and Rocky Point alert camera.
Staff Reports
4:30pm: Caliente Bodfish Rd Closed to southbound traffic due to Borel Fire. Traffic advised to find alternative route.
4:45 pm: Borel incident commander just told CHP that 178 will be closed “through the night and possibly the next couple days.”
6:00 pm: Genasys Zone KRN-747-B is now under an evacuation ORDER.
NORTH OF Piute Mountain Rd. EAST OF Sliver Fox Dr., School St., Saddle Springs Rd.
Zone KRV-748 is now under an evacuation WARNING.
NORTH OF South Alpine Way
SOUTH OF Cactus Rd., Todd Ct.
EAST OF Poplar Lane, Saddle Springs Rd. (27S02)
WEST OF Erskine Creek Rd.
6:20pm: From KCFD Twitter: Please plan to use Caliente Bodfish Rd. SOUTH to the Tehachapi Area when evacuating the area. Evacuees are advised not to access Client Creek Rd.
8:20pm: Socal Fire reports that the town of Havilah is a total loss, except for the school and fire station. https://x.com/SoCalFirePhoto/status/1817036705565671465
8:50pm:
the Kern County Fire Department.
This is an update to the Borel Fire that has extended into the Walker Basin area.
Please pay attention to this message, as it contains important information about the Borel Fire.
Genasys Protect Zones KRN-740, 741, and 742 have been upgraded to an Evacuation Order. Genasys Zone KRN 739 is now under an Evacuation Order. You should Leave NOW. Visibility in the area will be reduced and roads may become blocked; if you do not leave now, you could be trapped, injured or killed.
Genasys Protect Zone KRN-743 has been placed under an Evacation Warning. You should be PREPARED to leave. The situation can change quickly, and visibility in the area may be reduced and roads can become blocked.
An evacuation center has been set up at
Tehachapi Education Center
126 S. Snyder Ave.
Tehachapi, CA 935
Lake Isabella
Lake Isabella Senior Center
6405 lake Isabella Blvd
Lake Isabella, CA 93240
Animal Services will assist with sheltering companion animals at the shelter
9:45pm: Latest Acreage for Borel Fire at 31,950 acres. Via CA OES mapping
SATURDAY 7/27/24
8:55am: KCFD issued a evacuation ORDER to Zone Ken-743
2:00pm:
The Kern County Fire Department held a press conference at 2 p.m. featuring different officials who gave updated information on the situation. Seen in the background were First District Supervisor Phillip Peters, Assemblyman Vince Fong and Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood.
Currently, there are 1,200 personnel deployed in the area and approximately 1,200 more are expected to arrive soon and assist in the firefighting efforts.
One man was evacuated after he was burned on his arms at his residential structure (location not released).
An earlier report of two sheriff deputies trapped by fire while trying to assist in evacuations were actually able to escape to safety in their own vehicle.
According to KCFD, the fire is located in an area that is “very, very difficult to get to and fight directly. It is steep, and unforgiving.”
The area of the canyon where it originated has not experienced a significant fire event in 20 to 30 years, therefor the vegetation has become overgrown and was prone to fire.
With 100 degree temperatures, the area surrounding the fire is estimated to be 120 to 130 degrees for the firefighters.
Bodfish remains under evacuation warning as the fire is spreading southeast towards Thompson Canyon.
Three access roads remain open on Highways 155, 178 and Mountain 99.
Approximately 10 aircraft are assisting, and orders have been issued for additional equipment, personnel, dozers and night craft.
The area remains under red flag warning, and residents are encouraged to not wait for evacuation warnings or orders in their zone. Advised to collect important documents, medication, pets and essential items and leave the immediate area out of precaution.
On Friday night, a different fire occurred at the Sawmill, however due to the number of firefighters and personnel already in the area, that blaze was quickly contained.
SUNDAY 7/28/24
MONDAY 7/29/24:
9:45AM:
Kern County Animal Services
***Borel Fire Informational Message. If you are under an evacuation order, and you have animals in immediate jeopardy, please contact Kern County Animal Services at 661-868-7100. We have field units in the area, and will do what we can to respond to calls for assistance in the affected areas. Please share this message far and wide. We are also getting word from residents that cell service in the affected areas may be intermittent, as a result we have turned on the messaging feature on the department’s Facebook account. PLEASE ONLY USE THIS FEATURE IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO CONTACT ANIMAL SERVICES BY PHONE, AND NEED FIRE RELATED ANIMAL ASSISTANCE.
Be advised that there are currently two evacuation shelters available:
Tehachapi Education Center
126 South Snyder Ave
Tehachapi, Ca 93561
This site is staffed currently to assist with evacuees’ small animals.
Burroughs High School
500 E. French Ave.
Ridgecrest, CA
This site has supplies available for pet owners to provide their own care to pets. Those supplies include food, bowls, crates, leashes, and litter and litter boxes, among other supplies.
For horses and other large animals, the Kern County Fairgrounds has been made available for temporary large animal keeping. That is located at 1142 S P St, Bakersfield, CA 93307. Please be advised that this facility will only supply stalls, and pet owners may need to supply their own periodic care. Additionally, any pet owner intending to transport a horse coming from an evac zone must contact Kern County Animal Services in advance so that the facility can be advised. That number is 661-868-7132.
Additional space for horses is available at the Ridgecrest Fairgrounds. That is located at 520 S Richmond Rd in Ridgecrest. The gate there is open for anyone needing to shelter their horses. Again, the responsibility is entirely on the pet owner to provide care. Owners will need to enter off of Radar St through the D gate. Advanced notification is not necessary at this site.***
American Red Cross Central California Region
Red Cross volunteers have mobilized to support evacuation shelters for wildfire evacuees affected by the #BorelFire in #KernCounty.
In partnership with Kern County, Red Cross volunteers will provide safe refuge from the wildfire, water, snacks, and additional resources to evacuees. We encourage anyone who needs assistance to come to the shelter.
Shelter locations at of 7/27 12:30 p.m.:
NEW: Burroughs High School, 500 E French Ave, Ridgecrest, CA 93555
OPEN: Tehachapi Education Center (126 S Snyder Ave, Tehachapi, CA 93561)
CLOSED: Lake Isabella Senior Center (6405 Lake Isabella Blvd, Lake Isabella, CA 93240)
When possible, we encourage anyone coming to an emergency shelter to bring personal items for each member of their family, including prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, important documents & other comfort items.
Small pets are welcome at the shelter and bringing carriers, food and supplies are encouraged. Kern County Animal Services and Central California Animal Disaster Team will assist with sheltering companion animals at the shelter.
Borel Fire information line is available for residents: 661-873-2660
If you have any physical limitations and require evacuation assistance, please call the Aging and Adult Services hotline at 1 (855) 264-6565.
Follow the link to view a map of the area under the Evacuation Orders and Warnings: https://go.genasys.com/y3vaii
For the most updated information, please continue to monitor local media or visit ReadyKern, Kern County Fire Department and Kern County Sheriff’s Office. If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1.
Shelter locations are available on the Red Cross Emergency App, redcross.org/shelter or by calling 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
MONDAY AFTERNOON: 55,400 acres have burned with 5% containment.
