*UPDATE*
The Bena Public Safety Burn has been cancelled due to the Fort Fire near I-5 and Lebec Road
CALIENTE, Calif. | On Thursday, June 5th, 2025, the Kern County Fire Department will be conducting a public safety burn in the area of Highway 58 and Bealville Road. The operation is planned to start at approximately 3 P.M and will go into the evening.
Please drive cautiously if you are passing through the area, and slow down if you see any emergency vehicles along the roadway. This controlled burn is designed to remove excess vegetation, creating a firebreak to slow the spread of wildfires into surrounding wildlands. The goal is to protect local ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and nearby communities.
DATE: Thursday, June 5th
TIME: 3 p.m.
LOCATION: Area of Highway 58 and Bealeville Road
What is a prescribed burn?
A prescribed burn, sometimes called controlled burn or public safety burn, is a prescription to treat an area through the reduction of vegetation to increase public safety. Specialists write this prescription to be carried out at a date, time, and manner to achieve the best results safely. The decision is made after an extensive and ongoing review of the location, vegetation types, vegetation moisture, weather, and burn history among other factors.
Why treat these areas?
Public safety burns help prevent a fire from extending from the roadway into the surrounding wildlands. This protects the landscape and habitat from destructive wildland fires. Additionally, this burn will reduce the likelihood that the communities will be exposed to dangerous wildfire.
Community Message:
You may smell or see smoke. Whenever a fire is burning nearby, we recommend staying extra vigilant, keeping informed about changes in fire activity. Register at ReadyKern.com for emergency notifications and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Your Kern County Fire Department continues to actively manage hazards to our communities through prescribed burns and mechanical treatments (fuel breaks created by heavy equipment). We encourage all residents to make sure they are maintaining the required defensible space around their home.
