Cathy Perfect - Kern Valley Sun

With three consecutive days of severe thunderstorm and flash flood activity over the Piute Fire, fire crews had limited access to fire control lines. Measurable rain in the Piute Peak area on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, as reported by the National Weather Service, was just shy of five inches. Major flash floods hit the Piute Fire’s burned area and sent five- and six-foot walls of water, mud and debris roaring down Erskine Canyon causing Erskine Creek to overflow its banks and spill across Lake Isabella Blvd. Witnesses and law enforcement personnel on the scene gauged the wall of water at 20 feet wide.

Up to 80 homes were evacuated in the Erskine Canyon area and on Sunday, two families were plucked from the roofs of their homes by Kern County Fire Helicopter 408. A family of two adults, one child and a dog were airlifted from their roof by Kern County Fire Crews and a second family of two adults, two children, and a dog were airlifted from their property as it became an island surrounded by mud and debris flows. Mud and debris flows also occurred in the Kelso Valley area between Kelso Creek and Bob Rabbit Road Sunday evening. Just before 8:00 p.m., Kern County Fire Department’s Erskine Incident Manager asked that the county roads department close those roads. He estimated the rush of water at 100 yards wide and 18 to 24 inches deep.

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Primary concerns for firefighter safety included unknown road conditions due to flash flooding, trees weakened by soil movement due to the flood, and potential thunderstorms and associated erratic winds.

California Incident Management Team 2 (Bill Molumby) took control of the Piute Fire at 6 a.m. Monday, July 14, in relief of Pacific Northwest Team 2 (Chris Hoff). Kern County (John Hayes) and CALFIRE (Ted VanDevort) Incident Commanders remain in place as part of the Unified Command for the Piute Fire. Command teams are generally assigned for a two-week period to allow for required rest cycles.

For anyone that may need assistance from the Red Cross due to the Piute Fire and associated flood events, please contact them at (661) 324-6427 or (800) 498-4882.

Infrared flight equipment was used Monday over the fire area today to determine where remaining hot spots may exist. Few were found. Rehabilitation of fire suppression impacts will begin on controlled sections of fire line as access permits, said Robin Alway PNW Team 2 Web Manager.

The Evacuation Shelter at the Kern Valley Senior Center, 6409 Lake Isabella Blvd, was utilized for flood victims Saturday and Sunday nights and remained in standby status.

Existing Closures and Road Status:  On July 1, the Forest Service implemented a Piute Fire Area Closure. This area includes all access points west of the Pacific Crest Trail. BLM closures include Nichols Peak, Bright Star Wilderness Area, Cortez Canyon, Dry Canyon, Jawbone Canyon and Lynch Canyon, Piute Mountain Road, Saddle Springs Road, Erskine Creek Road and all routes of travel west of the Pacific Crest Trail, are now closed to off highway vehicles (OHV). Other road closures include McCray Road from the end of the pavement south, and Fawn Drive from the end of the pavement south.  There is an area closure in effect for the Piute Mountains from Piute Mountain Road at Caliente Creek Road; Jawbone Canyon Road south of Piute Mountain Road; Roads 29S02 and 29S03 and Erskine Creek Road at pavement.

By Tuesday the weather, partly cloudy with a chance of showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon, became less of a concern as monsoonal moisture had begun to dissipated. Cooperating agencies and partners include US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Kern County Fire Department, Kern County Sheriff, and Kern County Office of Emergency Services, CALFIRE, California Highway Patrol and the Kern County Animal Control, and Office of Emergency Services Fire and Rescue.