Borel Fire: 2,300 under evacuation as fire sweeps through Kern County mountains, historic town

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. This story was updated July 27 at 2:18 p.m., and 3:40 p.m. See the latest update here.

KERN COUNTY, Calif. – At least 2,300 people are under evacuation orders as firefighters battle an extreme wildfire spreading in the Kern County mountains. The Borel Fire was 0% contained and has already burned much of the small historic community of Havilah.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said the state has secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help combat the fire. The grant allows local, state and tribal agencies responding to the fire to apply for 75 percent reimbursement for eligible fire suppression costs.

The state also secured FEMA assistance for the Park Fire raging in Northern California. It's currently the state's largest fire.

The Borel Fire started Wednesday and by Saturday morning grew to nearly 32,000 acres. U.S. Forest Service officials said at a press conference the fire has moved fast, so acreage was likely already higher by the afternoon. On Thursday alone, it spread five miles and another six miles on Friday.

Evacuation orders and warnings were increased to include areas near Lake Isabella. A red flag warning was in place for the lake community as well as Kernville through Sunday.

Fire officials anticipate “very extreme” fire behavior throughout the weekend. The blaze was making its way south toward Walker Basin and Thompson Canyon and north near Clear Creek.

Fire hits Havilah

An incident team assigned to the fire confirmed reports that large areas around the town of Havilah and the nearby Piute Meadow Ranches area had burned. A clear picture of the damage was not immediately provided by officials.

But videos and images posted to the social media site X late Friday showed just how much the small community was overtaken by fire.

Videos showed flames that were still active on the ground as trees, cars and structures around were blackened and smoke lingered in the air.

One report, by the X user “SoCalFirePhoto” stated much in the small community burned except for the school and fire station.

Havilah is a historic gold-mining town that was active for about two decades in its early days. It was the first county seat between 1866 and 1872. County government later relocated to Bakersfield.

Fire officials noted Saturday that the Borel Fire is burning in a region that has not been touched by fire in at least three decades, making it much more vulnerable.

Joshua Yeager

/

KVPR

A fire incident team — which was pulled from the nearby SQF Lightning fire in Tulare County — stated earlier in the day that the fire has grown at a pace similar to what would be expected during a severe Santa Ana wind event – which are “dry winds that flow east to west through the mountain passages in Southern California,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Heavy smoke from the fire, meanwhile, is traveling east into Nevada.

Road closures in place

A road closure is in place for Caliente Bodfish Road from Kern Canyon Road. Caliente Bodfish Road travels directly through the evacuation zone, where homes are sparse. It connects Highway 58 to the south with communities near Lake Isabella in the north.

Kern County Fire reported residents in the community of Bodfish are allowed to use the road to evacuate north toward the lake. Residents in the Havilah and Walker Basin area were allowed to use the road to evacuate south toward Tehachapi.

The evacuation orders in place mainly stretch from the south side of Highway 178 and westward to the Bright Star Wilderness area.

Evacuation centers

The Red Cross Central California chapter has closed an evacuation center in Lake Isabella and has opened another one in Ridgecrest, at Burroughs High School, 500 E French Ave.

A second evacuation center is open at the Tehachapi Education Center, 126 South Snyder Ave.

By Saturday afternoon, at least 26 people were being assisted at the shelters. Animal services were being offered at the location, as well as services for seniors. A hotline is also available for adult services at 1-855-264-6565.

The Red Cross encouraged residents who are evacuating to bring the following for each member of their family: prescription and other emergency medication, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, important documents and other comfort items; for babies, diapers, formulas and toys, should be brought.