Wildfire burns in Sequoia National Forest

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Wildfires burning in central California forests threatened hundreds of homes on Monday, as cool, humid weather helped fire crews but also posed the risk of thunderstorms that could bring lightning and gusty winds.

A series of fires sparked by weekend lightning storms burned more than 84 square miles near Tehachapi and in the Sequoia National Forest north of Los Angeles. The National Weather Service predicted a 20- to 30-percent chance of thunderstorms in the areas.

The 23,866-acre Comanche Complex of fires was 30 percent contained but an evacuation notice was in place for several hundred homes in Stallion Springs, Kern County fire Capt. Bill Brickey aid.

"If anybody's still in there, we want them to get out," Brickey said.

California Statewide Fire Map

A fire southwest of Bakersfield near the city of Arvin moved into an area of homes, but no building damage was reported, Brickey said.

About 800 firefighters aided by water-dropping aircraft were battling the flames in oak woodlands.

The 7,025-acre Keene Complex of five fires near Tehachapi was 92 percent contained.

Fire crews made headway overnight as winds eased, but scattered homes in the remote area remained in danger and many were not easily accessible, Brickey said.

About 1,700 firefighters were assigned to the blaze but some could be transferred to the Comanche Complex if conditions warrant the move.

Farther north, the Breckenridge Complex of blazes had burned 24,000 acres in Kern County, Sequoia National Forest and other federal land. It was only 20 percent contained.

The huge, ancient sequoias in the forest were not threatened.

"It's not anywhere near the giant sequoias right now," forest spokesman Cody Norris said.

There were as many as 50 small fires started in Kern County on Saturday, after a series of fast-moving thunderstorms brought frequent lightning.

[Forty-Four]

They did a time lapse on my local news this morning. The smoke is actually here in Michigan. The wind has carried it all this way, and we can smell "campfire" smell. It is pretty cool, but at the same time, unfortunate. It isn't real smokey here, it just appears hazy/foggy over a distance, with a nice aroma to it.