Kern Valley Sun
The quiet community of Mt. Mesa was turned upside down on Tuesday, June 30, when the home of Patti and Bob Barr, located at 4508 Juniper Lane, burst into flames around 1:45 p.m. More than 100 firefighters from Kern County Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management responded to the scene.
Several surrounding homes and structures also sustained significant damage. Firefighting efforts were hampered somewhat by a 350-gallon propane tank that was venting stored gas in the rear yard.
 Firefighters survey the damage to a home on Pine lane in Mt. Mesa June 30. |
Although McNeal’s home was 70 feet from the Barr’s burning house, the intensity of the heat melted her home’s vinyl siding and blistered its paint.
“It was a tinder box,” McNeal said. “All of the wood fences fed the fire and led it from structure to structure. The breeze just fanned the flames along even faster.”
McNeal was inside her home when she heard her neighbor shouting, “Help, help. Fire. Call 911.” She added, “I ran outside and saw the flames and yelled for my grandson to make the call.
“I grabbed my garden hose and turned on the water to start hosing down my wooden fence, but there wasn’t any pressure. The intense heat had caused the hose to collapse.”
McNeal’s grandsons were visiting from Simi Valley when the fire occurred. Her youngest grandson, Dennis Kilgore, 8, said, “The fire really frightened me, but it was really neat seeing the helicopter drop water on my grandma’s house.”
After seeing a fire so close, he added, “I’ll never, ever play with matches after seeing what happened.”
Wes Williams, a local chiropractor, owns the home directly behind the Barr residence. His recently-built house was up for sale and had been empty for some time. Apart from the Barr home, Williams’ two story home sustained the most damage. His wife, LeAnne commented as she surveyed the extensive damage, “I’m so grateful that we got the last of our belongings out just this last weekend.”
Williams, standing in his driveway awaiting a call from his insurance adjuster, was at a loss. “Where do you start? This house has sustained extensive damage. What can be salvaged? The electrical, the drywall, the roof? I just don’t know.”
He had opted for building materials with the highest safety ratings. Ironically, it appears the attic vent mandated by safety codes allowed the flames to enter the structure. Diane Wilson, whose home backs up to McLean’s property, also sustained significant damage. She lost a new gazebo and hot tub; the back room of her home sustained smoke and water damage.
As she sat dazed on her front lawn, she expressed her gratitude to the unknown gentleman who let her two dogs and cat out of her burning backyard. “Two of the animals returned home, but one dog, Annie, is still out there,” she said. “She’s very skittish and I’m concerned that she may be holed up in someone’s backyard going unnoticed.” With each passing day her fears grow about the dog’s safety and well being.
Due to the extremely dry and windy conditions, embers traveled as far as three blocks to the east, sparking three grass fires in empty lots, reported Kern County Fire Department Public Information Officer Sean Collins. Fortunately, quick action by fire personnel put them down quickly. Further equipment was brought in to deal with the developing grass fires, including a water dropping helicopter from the U.S. Forest Service. Collins said the incident was under control by 3:10 p.m.
Fire crews were able to save an estimated $1,900,000 of property and equipment. The fire destroyed approximately $465,000.00 in property damages. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Red Cross is helping the displaced family. The Kern County Fire Department reminds residents of the importance of hazard reduction and creating a defensible space to help protect your home.
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