Sand Canyon fire update
Tehachapi, CA: At approximately 1:00 PM on July 17th 2012, the Kern County
Fire Department received a call for a vegetation fire near Sand Canyon Road and
Highway 58. On arrival, firefighters were faced with a fast moving fire burning
in light grass and brush along west bound Highway 58, one mile east of Sand
Canyon Road. Additional firefighting resources were requested from the Bureau of
Land Management, Cal Fire, California City Fire, Los Angeles County Fire, and
the U.S. Forest Service to help battle the blaze.
The Sand Fire has burned approximately 1400 acres and is 50% contained. The
fire had potential to grow to between six and eight thousand acres however with
additional air resources firefighters have been able to halt the forward
progression of the fire. Forty structures were originally threatened in the
community of Sand Canyon, but with the assistance of six air tankers, five
helicopters, six dozers and over five hundred and twelve firefighters the
community was saved.
The fire has destroyed one bridge, one uninhabited structure, and
twenty-one power poles.
A local interagency type three incident management team has been
implemented to manage the fire by using local agreements in order to reduce fire
suppression costs. With favorable conditions, full containment of the fire is
expected on Wednesday and full control by Friday.
The cause of the fire was accidental in nature and was attributed to a
wheel coming loose from a boat trailer being towed along Highway 58. There have
been no reported injuries to firefighters or civilians.
Assistance is being received from the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, the
California Highway Patrol, and Southern California Edison.
For further updates visit kerncountyfire.org or contact (661) 330-0133