Kern Valley Sun
A rapid interagency response held a July 8 mid-morning fire on “Antenna Hill” near Camp 9 to approximately 14 acres of BLM land. “It was fortunate the fire broke out when it did,” said BLM Prevention Battalion Chief Debbie Santiago. "We had the personnel and resources we needed nearby," she said. "It was definitely an interagency response. Kern County Fire Department helicopter 408 and (US Forest Service) helicopter 523 had easy access to water; that was a big help, and we had an air tanker. Without that air support, we could not have gotten such a good jump on it."
"This morning's fire, which started about 9:30, is under investigation because it started to close to the road," Santiago said. "Kern County Fire arson investigators will assist us with that."
  
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Two days later at approximately 3:00 p.m. another fire broke out in the Hillview Acres neighborhood in Weldon. The “Perry” incident consumed about 24 acres, according to Geri Adams, Supervisory Information Assistant for the Kern River Ranger District. As with Wednesday’s fire near Camp 9, a quick interagency response kept the fire from spreading to structures that could have been on danger had the fire gotten out of control.
Local Kern County Fire Department personnel, assisted by helicopter 408 and (US Forest Service) helicopter 523 kept damage to a minimum.
“People really need to take care and create a defensible space around their homes,” Santiago said. “We’re no where near 100 percent.”
Friday’s fire is believed to have been started by a juvenile playing with matches in the area where the fire started. Kern County Fire Department Arson investigations called out Kern County Sheriff’s Deputy and KRV Sheriff’s Activities League Coordinator Joe Garcia who transported the juvenile to Bakersfield.
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