Bull Fire Stats

Name: Bull Fire
Status/Notes: 96% Contained - 16,442 acres
Personnel: 242 (KCFD, USFS, and BLM)
Structures Threatened: 0
Structures Destroyed: 8
Outbuildings Destroyed: 6 
Date Started: July 26, 2010 at 1:45 PM
Last Update: August 4, 2010 at 9:00 AM
 

Bull Fire Press Release (8/04/2010 @ 8:00 AM)

Fire Status: Yesterday firefighters focused on two areas of the fire along the east and west flanks.  The focus of today?s efforts will be to continue to mop up the east flank, approximately 1 and ½ miles south-west of Cannell Meadow, where some smokes have remained. Firefighters on both the east and west flanks are working in extremely rugged, steep, rocky, and in some cases inaccessible terrain.  Patrol of the firelines around the remainder of the fire will occur to watch for any additional hot spots.

Resources:  Total Personnel: 242
Hand Crews: 6   Engines: 5   Dozers: 0   Water Tenders: 7   Helicopters: 3

Structures Destroyed:   8 residences and 6 outbuildings

Closure:  The Mountain Highway 99 has reopened as of 9:00 a.m. Monday, August 2 and the area closure has been lifted.  None of the campgrounds in the fire area received any fire damage during the fire. Those campgrounds will be reopened on Thursday, August 5, once water testing has been completed.

Driving Caution: Now that Mountain Highway 99 has reopened, please be aware that there could be firefighters and equipment along that road in the fire area.  For their safety and yours, please drive slowly and carefully.

Reporting Smokes Within the Fire Area: Please be aware that the public could continue to see small smokes coming up within the fire area until we get enough rain over the area.  Please DO NOT report those smokes since they are well within the perimeter of the fire.

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Bull Fire Press Release (Archive)

Press Release #12 (8/02/2010 @ 8:00 AM)

Fire Status: Yesterday’s efforts by firefighters resulted in increasing containment of the fire to 95%.  Today, the focus will be: 1) to ensure equipment and supplies left along firelines are removed, and 2) to conduct repair of areas damages by firefighting activities.  This includes constructing waterbars along firelines and repairing roads.  Firelines will continue to be patrolled by air.

Firefighting resources continue to be released for assignment to other fires burning in the State and throughout the Nation.  

California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 will transition management of the Bull Fire back to the Sequoia National Forest tomorrow, August 3.

Resources:  Total Personnel: 580
Hand Crews: 12   Engines: 7   Dozers: 0   Water Tenders: 8   Helicopters: 8

Structures Destroyed:   8 residences and 6 outbuildings

Closures: At 9:00 a.m. this morning, the Sequoia National Forest will lift the Bull Fire Area Closure.  This includes re-opening Mountain Highway 99.  Please be aware that developed campgrounds along this corridor which are in the fire area will remain closed until the Forest completes work necessary to allow for public access.

Press Release #11 (8/01/2010 @ 7:00 AM)

Fire Status: Yesterday firefighters focused on two areas of the fire along the east and west flanks.  The focus of today’s efforts will be to continue to mop up the east flank, approximately 1 and ½ miles south-west of Cannell Meadow, where active fire has remained.  Firefighters on both the east and west flanks are working in extremely rugged, steep, rocky, and in some cases inaccessible terrain.  Patrol of the firelines around the remainder of the fire will occur to watch for any additional hot spots.   

Crews will also continue to remove equipment and supplies left along the firelines as part of the clean up effort. Due to the excellent progress moving towards containment, resources are continuing to be demobilized from the Bull Fire, and in many cases reassigned to other fires burning in California and throughout the Nation.

Resources:  Total Personnel: 885
Hand Crews: 28   Engines: 22   Dozers: 1   Water Tenders: 11   Helicopters: 10

Structures Destroyed:   8 residences and 6 outbuildings

Closures: The Mountain Highway 99 closure has been reduced.  Starting today, Mountain Highway 99 is closed from Headquarters Campground, on the south, to just south of Fairview on the north.  Also, the Sherman Pass Road has been re-opened to all traffic.  For details on the Sequoia National Forest Bull Fire please go to: www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia.

Community Meetings: No additional community meetings are scheduled. The Incident Management Team and all fire personnel sincerely appreciate the outstanding support provided by community members during the Bull Fire.

 
Press Release #10 (7/31/2010 @ 7:00 AM)

Fire Status:  Throughout the day yesterday, helicopters were used to drop water on flare ups within the fire area.  Overnight, the fire remained quiet. Today, seven – 20 person hand crews will work to complete construction of fireline on the east flank.  Crews that camped overnight on the fireline along the west flank will work towards completion of the western fireline today.  Additional crews continue to patrol completed firelines and repair areas damaged from fire suppression activities.  Forest personnel continue to work alongside firefighters to ensure that natural and cultural resources are protected during fire fighting operations. 

Resources:  Total Personnel: 1,435
Hand Crews: 38   Engines: 39   Dozers: 3   Water Tenders: 15   Helicopters: 13

Structures Destroyed:   8 residences and 6 outbuildings

Closures: Mountain Highway 99 is closed from Headquarters Campground to Brush Creek. Also an area closure has been implemented for the Kern River Ranger District within the Bull Fire area. For detailed information please go to: www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia.

Community Meetings: No additional community meetings are scheduled. The Incident Management Team and all fire personnel sincerely appreciate the outstanding support provided by community members during the Bull Fire.

Press Release #9 (7/30/2010 @ 8:00 PM)

Fire Status:  Very little fire activity occurred today, allowing crews to complete containment lines along the north, east, and south perimeters of the fire.  Crews working along the western flank of the fire were transported across the Kern River on rafts in order to access the fire area. Tomorrow,   these crews plan to work towards completion of the fireline.  In the next several days fire fighters will work to ensure that the firelines are secure, as well as conduct repair of areas damaged from fire suppression activities.  Forest personnel continue to work alongside fire fighters to ensure that natural and cultural resources are protected during fire fighting operations.   

Resources:  Total Personnel: 1,435
Hand Crews: 38   Engines: 39   Dozers: 3   Water Tenders: 15   Helicopters: 13

Structures Destroyed:   8 residences and 6 outbuildings

Press Release #8 (7/30/2010 @ 8:00 AM)

Fire Status: The fire continues to burn in grass and brush on both sides of the Kern River, north of Kernville.  Fire activity has moderated over the past couple of days, allowing fire fighters to make excellent progress towards containment.   Today, crews will continue to ‘mop up’ the existing fireline, to ensure that no hot spots remain up to 200 feet inside the fire’s perimeter. This significantly reduces the opportunities for the fire to move outside the fireline.   Additional crews will continue to construct fireline directly along the fire’s edge.

Forest personnel are working alongside fire fighters to ensure that natural and cultural resources are protected during fire fighting operations.   Several helicopters were released from the Bull Fire yesterday to support the Crown Fire, burning in Los Angeles County.

Resources:  Total Personnell: 2,060
Hand Crews: 81   Engines: 54   Dozers: 5   Water Tenders: 16   Helicopters: 9

Structures Destroyed:   8 residences and 6 outbuildings

Evacuations & Closures: No evacuations are in effect.  
Mountain Highway 99 is closed from Headquarters Campground to Brush Creek. Also an area closure has been implemented for the Kern River Ranger District within the Bull Fire area. For detailed information please go to: www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia.

Community Meetings:  A community meeting will be held tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the Oddfellows Hall in Kernville.  Members of the Incident Management Team and Forest personnel will be available to provide an update on the fire, and answer questions from community members.  

Special Note:  A task force consisting of Law Enforcement Officers from the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Kern County Fire Department, and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office was formed to investigate the Bull Fire. The task force is continuously working, following up on multiple reports from local citizens. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Anyone with information pertaining to the start of the Bull Fire is encouraged to call the Kern County Fire Department Tip Line, toll free at 1-877-FIRE-TIP (1-877-347-3847).

Press Release #7 (7/29/2010 @ 6:00 PM)

Fire Status: The fire continues to burn in grass and brush on both sides of the Kern River, north of Kernville.  Fire activity today was moderate, with most of the heat observed along the east flank.   

Today’s Actions: Today, fire fighters continued mopping up fireline on the southern and northern perimeters of the fire to ensure no hot spots remain. Excellent progress was made for the second day in a row, with the construction of additional fire line, and preparation of the west flank for crews to work beginning tomorrow.  Both helicopters and air tankers were again available to support crews working on the ground.  

Resources:  Total Personnel: 2,060
Hand Crews: 84   Engines: 54   Dozers: 5   Water Tenders: 16   Helicopters: 14  

Structures Destroyed:   8 residences and 6 outbuildings

Evacuations & Closures: No evacuations are in effect.  
Mountain Highway 99 is closed from Headquarters Campground to Brush Creek. Also an area closure has been implemented for the Kern River Ranger District within the Bull Fire area. For detailed information please go to: www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia. 

Special Note:  A task force consisting of Law Enforcement Officers from the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Kern County Fire Department, and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office was formed to investigate the Bull Fire. The task force is continuously working, following up on multiple reports from local citizens. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Anyone with information pertaining to the start of the Bull Fire is encouraged to call the Kern County Fire Department Tip Line, toll free at 1-877-FIRE-TIP (1-877-347-3847).

Press Release #6 (7/29/2010 @ 8:00 AM)

Fire Status:  The fire continues to burn in grass and brush on both sides of the Kern River, north of Kernville.  Very little fire activity was observed overnight.

Today’s Actions:  Today, crews will continue mopping up fire line on the southern edge of the fire to ensure no hot-spots remain. Construction of fire line will continue along the west and east flanks, as well as the north perimeter in order to stop the fire’s spread.  Both helicopters and air tankers will be available to support crews working on the ground.  

Resources:  Total Personnell: 2,399
Hand Crews: 99   Engines: 124   Dozers: 5   Water Tenders: 16   Helicopters: 14  

Structures Destroyed:   8 residences and 6 outbuildings

Evacuations & Closures: No evacuations are in effect.  
Mountain Highway 99 is closed from Headquarters Campground to Brush Creek. Also an area closure has been implemented for the Kern River Ranger District within the Bull Fire area. For detailed information please go to: www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia.

Community Meeting:  A community meeting will be held at the Lake Isabella Senior Center tonight at 6:00 p.m.  Members of the Incident Management Team and Forest personnel will be available to provide an update on the fire and answer questions from community members.

Special Note:  A task force consisting of Law Enforcement Officers from the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Kern County Fire Department, and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office was formed to investigate the Bull Fire. The task force is continuously working, following up on multiple reports from local citizens. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Anyone with information pertaining to the start of the Bull Fire is encouraged to call the Kern County Fire Department Tip Line, toll free at 1-877-FIRE-TIP (1-877-347-3847).

Press Release #5 (7/28/2010 @ 6:00 PM)

Fire Status:  The fire continues to burn in grass and brush on both sides of the Kern River, north of Kernville.  Fire growth today was minimal.  Residents of Riverkern were allowed back into their homes this morning due to the reduced threat from the fire.  Fire personnel will continue to work within the residential areas to ensure any remaining hot spots are extinguished.  

Today’s Actions:  Today, fire activity was significantly quieter than yesterday, allowing crews to make excellent progress constructing fire line directly along the northern and southern perimeters of the fire.  Air support assisted fire fighters working on the ground.  

Resources:  Total Personnel: 2,249
Hand Crews: 67   Engines: 124   Dozers: 3   Water Tenders: 16   Helicopters: 8  

Structures Destroyed:   8 residences and 6 outbuildings

Injuries: Two

Evacuations: All evacuations were lifted by the Kern County Sheriff’s Department at 8:00 this morning.

Closures:   Mountain Highway 99 is closed from Headquarters Campground to Brush Creek.

Community Meeting:  A community meeting will be held at the Lake Isabella Senior Center Thursday at 6:00 p.m.  Members of the Incident Management Team and Forest personnel will be available to provide an update on the fire, and answer questions from community members.

Further information may be obtained by calling: (760) 376-3781
or on the Internet at: www.inciweb.org/incident/2043

Press Release #4 (7/28/2010 @ 10:00 AM)

Fire Status:
The fire is burning in grass and brush on both sides of the Kern River, north of Kernville.  Yesterday, crews working on the northern flank of the fire, to the west of the Kern River, were pulled back due to a significant increase in fire activity.  However, efforts to construct fire line along the southern perimeter were successful, and crews worked through the night to strengthen these lines. Crews also worked through the night to clean up islands of unburned fuels between the river and Mountain Highway 99.   

Today’s Actions:
Today, crews will construct fire line directly along the southern, south-western and south-eastern perimeter of the fire’s edge.  Air support will be provided for all resources working on the ground.  Mop up activities will continue around structures in Kernville and River Kern, to ensure that no hot spots remain around these areas. Increased winds may occur over the fire area today, with a slight possibility of afternoon thunderstorms.  

Resources:  Total Personnel: 1,129
Hand Crews: 59   Engines: 63   Dozers: 1   Water Tenders: 7   Helicopters: 12  

Structures Destroyed:   Eight residences and six outbuildings burned on July 26th, the first day of the fire.

Injuries: Two

Evacuations: Kern County Sheriff’s Department will allow residents of Riverkern and Camp Owens to return to their residences this morning at 8:00.

Closures:   Mountain Highway 99 is closed from Headquarters Campground to Brush Creek.

Press Release #3 (7/27/2010 @ 10:00 AM)

KERNVILLE, CA - On Monday July 26th 2010 at approximately 1:45 P.M., the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Kern County Fire Department responded to a vegetation fire in the area of Burlando Road, west of the Kern River in Kernville.

As of 7:00 A.M. this morning July 27th the size of the fire is estimated at 5042 acres. There are approximately 700 personnel on scene. A  Type 1 Incident Management Team has been assigned to this fire and will take over the management of the incident later today. Firefighters are still working hard to provide structure protection throughout the area.

Road closures are in effect on Mountain Highway 99 from Kernville to Fairview. (16 miles) Burlando Rd is also closed except for resident access only. Cherry Hill Rd and Horse Meadow campground will be closed, 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 cancelled. Please use telephone contact number below.

A shelter is available at the Lake Isabella Senior Center, 6405 Lake Isabella Blvd. At this time the Oddflellows Hall is not being used as a shelter.
All private and commercial rafting on the upper Kern River is cancelled until further notice due to safety reasons with helicopters working out of the river.

Forest service Officials will be meeting at Camp Owens 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.

For more information telephone a 24hr helpline is available:
United States Forest Service at (760) 376-3781 ext
Kern County Fire Department at 661-330-0133

Press Release #2 (7/26/2010 @ 9:57 PM)

KERNVILLE, CA - On Monday July 26th 2010 at approximately 1:45 P.M., the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Kern County Fire Department responded to a vegetation fire in the area of Burlando Road, west of the Kern River in Kernville.

The fire is an estimated 4200 acres. There are approximately 500 personnel on scene with many more en-route.  Firefighters battled for several hours in the area of Burma Rd and Burlando Rd, their efforts and hard work saved all of the structures in that area. However, after initial assessment it appears that the fire destroyed 6 primary residences in the area of Riverkern. Firefighters are still working hard to provide structure protection in both areas.

There are no reported injuries.

For more information telephone a 24hr helpline is available: United States Forest Service at (760) 376-3781 ext 0

Original Press Release (7/26/2010 at 6:10 PM)

KERNVILLE, CA - On Monday July 26th 2010 at approximately 1:45 P.M., the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Kern County Fire Department responded to a vegetation fire in the area of Burlando Road, west of the Kern River in Kernville.

Upon arrival crews were faced with a developing fire in grass and heavy vegetation in Bull Run Creek.  The fire is an estimated 2000 acres. There are approximately 500 personnel on scene with many more en-route.  Approximately 200 firefighters are battling the fire on ground with assistance from 7 water dropping helicopters and 7 air tankers.

There are several structures threatened by the fire on both sides of the Kern River.  Residence in the community of Riverkern and residents along Burma Rd off of Burlando Road are being evacuated as well as Camp Owens.  There are structural protection groups assigned to these areas.
There are no reported injuries.

For more information telephone:
United States Forest Service at 760-417-0608
Bureau of Land Management at 661-742-4474 or 661-332-1754
Kern County Fire Department at 661-330-0133 or visit www.kerncountyfire.org