1 home destroyed, hundreds of residents forced to evacuate near California canyon wildfire

Hundreds evacuated near Calif. canyon fire

LAKE ISABELLA, Calif. — Hundreds of residents in small mountain communities were under evacuation orders Wednesday as a forest fire in the southern Sierra Nevada grew to more than 6,100 acres and destroyed one home.

Mandatory evacuations involved portions of the town of Bodfish and an area known as Myers Canyon, said Cindy Thill, a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Wednesday in Kern County to free up state resources to battle the blaze. The Federal Emergency Management Agency also has authorized the use of federal funds to help fight the blaze.

The fire erupted Sunday in the Lower Kern River Canyon and burned up and out of the canyon in a portion of Sequoia National Forest southwest of Lake Isabella, a popular fishing, boating and hiking area about 110 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.

Recreational sites and river outfitter camps were evacuated at the outset but calls for residential evacuations didn’t begin until late Tuesday as part of the fire became more active.

“That southeast edge decided to rear its head and start moving a little bit faster,” Thill said.

Two shelters for displaced residents were set up and officials planned a community meeting Wednesday night, Thill said.

Driven by wind and topography, the fire was burning in grass, brush and trees. Fire officials said areas of timber were torching in groups and there was a high rate of spread and spotting.

More than 1,000 firefighters were on the lines or in strike teams with engines poised for structure protection.

“We’re calling in forces from all over,” Thill said.

Fourteen airtankers and 13 helicopters were aiding the fight.

Authorities have said the fire was human-caused but have not determined whether it was an accident or intentional.

Thill said firefighting costs had reached $2.5 million.

It’s the second major fire in the region this summer. The Bull Fire burned more than 16,000 acres north of Lake Isabella in July and August, destroying eight homes and six outbuildings.