By 4:00 p.m., the wind had changed and the fast-burning fire had jumped the Kern River and threatened homes and business in the small community of Riverkern, a few miles north of Kernville on Sierra Way, also known as Mountain Road 99.
With the bulk of water-dropping resources committed to structure protection on the west side of the river, near Burlando Road and Rio Del Loma, flames licked at the backyards of homes in the 16200 block of Mountain Road 99 (Sierra Way) on the east side of the river. Forest Service and Kern County Fire personnel and equipment were quickly dispatched to Riverkern.
  
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Despite a constant barrage of pin-point water drops, flames barreled through the residential blocks of Cowbell and Bull Run Roads; at least six homes near the convergence of Cannel Creek Road were destroyed. Edward Crain wept at the realization that everything in his home at 19 Cannel Creek Road was lost, including hundreds of thousands of dollars of memorabilia and a vintage Volkswagen Bug.
Camp Erwin Owen, a juvenile detention facility just north of Kernville that houses wards between 14 and 18, began evacuating its staff of 14, along with the 125 wards. “This is the first time in the facility's 72-year history that there has been an evacuation,” said camp director Thad Kennedy. Juveniles were transported to juvenile hall and the Crossroads facility around 5:00 p.m., Kennedy said.
The main wing of the Sequoia Lodge remained undamaged, but an adjacent building that looked to house a couple of units was burned. The skeletal remains of a new $80,000 motor home smoldered in the front yard by evening's end.
As of Tuesday's 6:00 a.m. briefing, the Bull fire had consumed 5,042 acres and containment was gauged at five percent. “Today (Tuesday), we are expecting 14 helicopters and eight airtankers to assist the hand crews on the line,” said Kern County Fire Department spokesman Sean Collins.
“There are approximately 700 personnel on scene. A Type 1 Incident Management Team has been assigned to the Bull fire and will take over the management of the incident later today,” Collins said. “Firefighters are still working hard to provide structure protection throughout the area.”
Collins added that road closures are in effect on the 16-mile stretch of Mountain Road 99 from Kernville to Fairview. Burlando Rd is also closed except for resident access only. Cherry Hill Rd. and Horse Meadow campground will be closed, with access to residents only.
“California Management advises people with reservations, Tuesday through Thursday, will be relocated to a lake camping area and those with a Friday through Sunday reservation will either be relocated or canceled,” Collins said.
“All private and commercial rafting on the upper Kern River is canceled until further notice due to safety reasons with helicopters working out of the river. Forest service Officials will be meeting at Camp Owen and Mountain 99 at the road block, at 10:00 a.m. to escort campers back to campsites on the Kern River to retrieve their belongings.
Comments
41 comment(s)Scribdawg wrote on Aug 14, 2010 1:54 AM:
Truth of course wrote on Aug 7, 2010 8:35 PM:
Karen B. wrote on Aug 5, 2010 8:47 AM:
Thank you. "
Barbara Montgomery wrote on Aug 4, 2010 12:30 PM:
Bob Raytheon wrote on Jul 31, 2010 7:50 AM:
All your former co-workers at Raytheon are so very sorry for your loss and that of your neighbors. "
Carol Cullipher wrote on Jul 30, 2010 8:21 PM:
Love Carol B. Cullipher,Lacey,Washington
July 30.2010 "
Victor wrote on Jul 30, 2010 5:29 PM:
Gabby wrote on Jul 30, 2010 3:47 PM:
I drove up on Wednesday to check on my house on Cowbell. When I was there, I walked down to the gate for Bubbles Beach (which was open, presumably for the firefighters). Unfortunately, it looked as if the beach had received a tremendous amount of damage. I couldn't venture all the way in as there were fallen trees obstructing the path. "
Karen in Austin Texas wrote on Jul 30, 2010 1:37 PM:
KRVer wrote on Jul 30, 2010 1:17 PM:
Editor wrote on Jul 30, 2010 11:47 AM:
bronc wrote on Jul 30, 2010 10:33 AM:
Karen Sonleitner wrote on Jul 30, 2010 9:21 AM:
Larry wrote on Jul 30, 2010 7:13 AM:
Do you think the water will get murky as it did several years ago? "
Justin wrote on Jul 30, 2010 1:28 AM:
Mark wrote on Jul 29, 2010 4:10 PM:
theresa wrote on Jul 29, 2010 3:43 PM:
Katie wrote on Jul 29, 2010 10:42 AM:
Katie "
Richard Rowe wrote on Jul 29, 2010 9:58 AM:
Qt35b wrote on Jul 29, 2010 9:51 AM:
Thank the good Lord above no one has been killed by it -- yet!
Give the reporters a break! They have to decipher truth from fiction 24/7. It's hard enough without all you whiney, lets blame-it-on-SOMEONE/ANYONE-fast-as-you-can posters. Go write your own gossip newspaper. Seems that's what you're looking for. "
Richard Rowe wrote on Jul 29, 2010 8:13 AM:
Bob wrote on Jul 29, 2010 6:11 AM:
Sorry for those who lost thier homes.
Fires and earthquakes are a big part of living in California. "
Editor wrote on Jul 29, 2010 12:02 AM:
As of Wednesday, the IMT is releasing twice-daily updates containing accurate and timely information on the status of the fire and other important information.
To better manage the Sun's role in getting the information to our readers, we have created space for the daily updates under the 'NEWS UPDATE' heading.
This is an additional site on which readers can post comments and questions. "
Cathy Perfect wrote on Jul 28, 2010 11:28 PM:
Most people bring them to our office in person, but there are a handful of folks who send them electronically.
With important news stories such as this, we are well-advised to raise the public's awareness of this. Thank you for the reminder.
Photos can be submitted to editor@kvsun.com and photo@kvsun.com "
garrett wrote on Jul 28, 2010 10:16 PM:
Kern Angler wrote on Jul 28, 2010 10:11 PM:
Riverkern general store is fine as of 10:00AM this morning. I called to ask about my trailer in the storage next door. They said all is fine at the store and trailer storage. I don't know about Headquarters. "
daboysmom wrote on Jul 28, 2010 8:49 PM:
KRVer wrote on Jul 28, 2010 4:55 PM:
Reita Hamilton wrote on Jul 28, 2010 2:29 PM:
David Dills wrote on Jul 28, 2010 1:22 PM:
Grant wrote on Jul 28, 2010 12:52 PM:
Best resource for information. "
Fire info wrote on Jul 28, 2010 12:17 PM:
The following website is an excellent source for information on wildfires burning throughout the country. inciweb.org/ "
Just Wondering wrote on Jul 28, 2010 10:53 AM:
Kat Owen wrote on Jul 28, 2010 10:30 AM:
justathought wrote on Jul 28, 2010 9:45 AM:
To Lois Lane wrote on Jul 28, 2010 9:28 AM:
Clark Kent wrote on Jul 28, 2010 9:26 AM:
I was in Riverkern and saw the Sun reporter; she was in the thick of it.
My dad worked for a small weekly in the Midwest. Typically, smaller papers have fewer people and limited resources.
As for stories about the families that lost their homes, where's Jimmy Olsen when you need him? Maybe this was a job for Superman.
Sorry, Lois, but I have to agree with VonRiesling on this one. Keep up the good work, Kern Valley Sun. You serve our Valley well. "
We All Care wrote on Jul 28, 2010 9:22 AM:
Lois Lane wrote on Jul 28, 2010 8:18 AM:
We need a real local paper that serves the community. "
lady bug wrote on Jul 28, 2010 7:46 AM:
And, God bless our firemen. "
VonRiesling wrote on Jul 28, 2010 7:42 AM:
Thank you and keep up the professional work. "