CALIENTE, Calif., On August 10th, 2024, at 12:27 p.m. Kern County firefighters were dispatched to a vegetation fire on Sand Canyon Road approximately 2 miles north of Caliente Creek Road. Yesterday evening, August 14th, the last fire units were released from the incident. For five days, firefighters worked in steep, rocky, windy, and hot conditions to stop and contain the wildfire named the “Blue Fire”.
With the Piutes to the north, Twin Oaks to the south and homes immediately threatened in between, firefighters gave everything they had to stop the fire’s spread. Hand crews hiked in, punching in hand line and bulldozers pushed in dozer line. Fire engines pumped long hoselays, flowing water along the line. Air tankers and helicopters supported the efforts from above. Wind funneled through several canyons causing swirling effects that breathed life into the fire and shifted its movements. Flames ran through unburned islands of vegetation within the fire’s perimeter and made strong pushes to jump containment lines. Fire crews were forced to aggressively hold the line.
The Blue Fire was held to 427 acres and is 100% contained. No structures were lost. The fire was sparked by target shooting.
