HART FLAT, Calif., At approximately 12:56 p.m. on September 21, 2023, Kern County firefighters were dispatched to a report of a vegetation fire on the North side of HWY 58, just West of Hart Flat. The first arriving fire equipment found a fire in the grass and brush, moving quickly up the hillside and away from the highway. The prevailing, up-canyon wind was steady, and around 10-15 miles per hour, assisting the fire’s growth. Firefighters, considering the fire's behavior, the terrain and the nearby roads, implemented a plan to pinch off the fire near the top of the hill.  Fire hand crews and fire equipment pumping hose-lays worked together with air tankers and helicopters, blunting the flames as they reached the hilltop. Perched atop the hill a large cell tower stands unscathed due to a well-executed plan.

The fire has been contained at 10.4 acres. No injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.