Erskine Fire

Erskine Fire

Burned areas along partially re-opened SR 178 near South Lake, June 28
Location Lake Isabella, Kern County, California
Coordinates 35°37′01″N 118°27′11″W / 35.617°N 118.453°W / 35.617; -118.453Coordinates: 35°37′01″N 118°27′11″W / 35.617°N 118.453°W / 35.617; -118.453
Statistics[1][2]
Cost $19.3 million
Date(s) June 23, 2016 (2016-06-23) - July 11, 2016 (2016-07-11)
Burned area 47,864 acres (194 km2)
Cause Under investigation
Buildings
destroyed		 309
Fatalities 2
Map

Briefing map of the fire from June 28th.

The Erskine Fire was a wildfire that was burning in the Lake Isabella area of Kern County.[1] As of June 2016, it was the largest and most destructive wildfire of the 2016 California wildfire season. It was also the first fire of the year to have fatalities and is the 15th most destructive fire in state history.[3]

Events

The fire, which was first reported around 4:00pm on Thursday, June 23, quickly grew to over 8,000 acres (32 km2) and destroyed over 100 structures, including at least 80 residences, in the first few hours.[4]

By mid-day Friday the fire had grown to over 19,000 acres (77 km2) and is still 0% -contained.[2] By 6:00pm on Friday, officials confirmed that the fire had grown to over 30,000 acres (120 km2) with 5% contained.[5]

Friday evening Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Kern County.[6]

On June 28, Kern County Fire Department confirmed that 257 homes had been destroyed by the fire.[7]

Two Red Cross Shelters were set up north of Lake Isabella [8]

On July 11 the fire was 100% contained.[3]

Fatalities

On Friday, June 24, officials confirmed that 2 people had been killed by the fast moving fire.[2] Officials also stated that cadaver dogs were being used to search for possible additional victims.[5] The deceased victims were an elderly couple who died while attempting to flee their home.[9]

On Saturday June 25, a third set of remains was found, though the body had been burned so badly that it is unclear on whether or not the remains belong to a human or an animal.[10] Monday morning, the Kern County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the remains belonged to an animal and not to a human.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Erskine Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Vives, Ruben (24 June 2016). "Officials confirm 2 deaths in out-of-control fire in Kern County". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Erskine Fire officially 100% contained". 11 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "BREAKING NEWS: Officials estimate 80 homes lost in Lake Isabella wildfire". BakersfieldNow. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  5. 1 2 Kuzj, Steve (24 June 2016). "2 Dead, Nearly 30,000 Acres Burned in Erskine Fire in Lake Isabella". KTLA. KTLA. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  6. ↑ Healy, Patrick; Lloyd, Jonathan (24 June 2016). "State of Emergency Declared for Deadly Kern County Wildfire". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "KCFD confirms 257 homes destroyed in Erskine Fire". KERO. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  8. ↑ "Erskine Fire News Release". The National Wildfire Coordinating Group. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  9. ↑ Johnson, Alex (26 June 2016). "Death Toll Could Rise in Central California Wildfire, Authorities Warn". NBC News. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "Possible human remains found in deadly California wildfire". foxnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  11. ↑ Pastore, Jeanne (27 June 2016). "KCSO says remains found Saturday in area burned by Erskine Fire were animal remains". KGET-TV. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
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