BLACKWELLS, Calif. | At 10:02 a.m. today, the Kern County Fire Department was dispatched to a reported vegetation fire south of Highway 46 and west of Highway 33 in the area of Blackwells Corner.

The first-arriving unit confirmed a working vegetation fire of approximately 1 acre, burning in light grass with a moderate rate of spread. Due to dry vegetation and fire behavior, additional resources were immediately requested to limit the fire’s growth.

The Kern County Fire Department responded with five off-road patrols and five fire engines. Additional resources included three bulldozers, four helicopters, and six air tankers to support suppression efforts.

The fire ultimately burned 1,025 acres before firefighters were able to contain its forward progress. No structures were damaged or destroyed, and no injuries were reported to either civilians or firefighters. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Kern County Fire Department was assisted by the Bureau of Land Management, California Highway Patrol, and California Department of Transportation.

As temperatures remain high and vegetation continues to dry, the Kern County Fire Department reminds residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution with any activity that could ignite a wildfire. Even a small spark can quickly grow into a large fire under current conditions.