News - Wildfire force Digier Canyon residents from their homes

KGET Fort Tejon residents are being forced to evacuate Saturday.

A wildfire burning north of Digier Road, west of Interstate 5, started at 11 a.m., and the flames are spreading fast.

"He did advise we evacuate and so we did, now we're just waiting at the Fort to see what's going to happen. I haven't heard any updates on the fire or when we can go back to our home, we're just waiting," said Valerie Gale, Digier Canyon resident.

A Kern County Fire spokesman said 40-60 homes are in the fire's path.

The Red Cross is opening an evacuation center at Frazier Mountain High School Saturday night.

The shelter begins operation at 7 p.m., located at 700 Falcon Way in Lebec.

It will provide food, water and temporary housing for those being evacuated from the area.

Fire crews from Kern County and other agencies are fighting the flames head on.

Fire officials say 150 acres are burned.

Drivers along Interstate 5 are stopping to watch the fire, and that is slowing traffic in both directions.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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ABC - LOCAL NEWS -

Homes Evacuated Near 150-Acre Kern County Wildfire

KERN COUNTY, July 21, 2007 (KABC-TV) - Evacuations are in place as firefighters battle a 150-acre wildland fire next to I-5 in Kern County. The fire broke out on the westbound side of the freeway just after 11 a.m. Saturday morning. It is burning in dry brush north of Frazier Park.

Crews are beginning to get the upper hand in the firefight, given the terrain and the dry conditions.

The flames quickly burned through dry brush covering the hills. The blaze began around 11 a.m Saturday morning along the northbound lanes of the I-5 and quickly raced up the hills.

The concern was for residents tucked in to the canyon -- about 40-to-60 homes were evacuated due to the danger. Officials say they were concerned because there is only one road in, and one road out. They wanted to be sure they got the residents out of there before the fire reached the area.

The challenge for firefighters has been the terrain, which is extremely steep and treacherous. Several helicopters and water-dropping planes worked to break the fire's run, and so far have been doing a good job of that. The fire has burned 150-acres and is 15-percent contained.

Investigation into exactly what caused the fire continues. Authorities say the fire didn't come as much of a surprise.

"We're right in the middle of fire season. You don't want that to happen, but it does," said Capt. Benny Wofford of the Kern County Fire Department. "I mean, that's what we're here for. And it can take something as simple as an overheated engine, and you pull over to the side of the road -- I mean, the heat, and dry grass which is fueled, and you've got fire."

Officials tell Eyewitness News that they getting the upper hand on the fire and think it should be fully contained Saturday night.