Highway 178 expected to reopen Tuesday evening as River Fire reaches 2,535 acres

KERN RIVER VALLEY -  Highway 178 through Kern Canyon is expected to reopen at 8 p.m. Tuesday if no new fire activity occurs, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The update comes as the River Fire reached 2,535 acres with 15% containment. The blaze forced a hard closure of the primary route between the Kern River Valley and Bakersfield Monday. Officials said the reopening remains dependent on fire conditions.