Update May 20, 2026 9 AM - Highway 178 reopens as River Fire containment jumps to 70%

  Highway 178 through Kern Canyon has reopened to traffic as containment on the River Fire increased to 70%, according to updated incident information Tuesday evening.

The fire remained at 2,535 acres.

Both the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans websites showed Highway 178 open Tuesday evening after the roadway had been under a hard closure following the fire’s rapid growth Monday.

The closure had cut off the primary route between the Kern River Valley and Bakersfield, forcing drivers to use alternate routes while firefighters worked in steep terrain to contain the blaze.

Although the highway has reopened, motorists are advised to remain cautious while traveling through the area as fire crews continue suppression and mop-up operations.