WASCO, Calif., On June 16, 2025, at 10:02 p.m., Kern County firefighters responded to a reported fire on the 13000 block of Gun Club Road. Upon arrival, crews discovered a large fire in a methane gas digester at the Poso Creek Family Dairy. The digester, used to break down manure and produce methane gas through a natural process, had ignited, with flames rapidly spreading across the eight-acre system.

The fire threatened approximately 20,000 gallons of compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks stored nearby, posing a significant risk to the surrounding community. As a precautionary measure, firefighters immediately requested an evacuation order for a two-mile radius around the incident. Kern County Sheriff’s deputies, alongside fire crews, notified residents in the affected area. All dairy employees safely evacuated. ReadyKern and Genasys Protect were activated to distribute this critical information to the public.

Fortunately the CNG tanks’ pressure relief valves functioned properly, venting safely when exposed to the fire’s heat. Firefighters, including the KCFD Hazmat Response Team, worked together to safely extinguish the fire and mitigate the remaining hazards.

The evacuation order has been lifted. There are no further advisories in place. 

No injuries have been reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

To be alerted to emergencies in your area, please follow Kern County Fire on social media, sign up for ReadyKern and download the Genasys Protect app.