Erskine Fire

Last updated
Erskine Fire
CA SR178 Erskine Fire cleanup traffic 2016-06-28.jpg
Burned areas along partially re-opened SR 178 near South Lake, June 28
Date(s)
  • June 23, 2016 (2016-06-23)
  • July 11, 2016 (2016-07-11)
Location Lake Isabella, Kern County, California
Coordinates 35°37′01″N118°27′11″W / 35.617°N 118.453°W / 35.617; -118.453
Statistics [1] [2]
Burned area47,864 acres (19,370 ha; 75 sq mi; 194 km2)
Impacts
Deaths2
Structures destroyed309
Damage
  • $23 million
  • (equivalent to about $28 million in 2023)
Ignition
CauseWorn wire running through a tree
Map
ErskineFireBriefingMap.jpg
Briefing map of the fire from June 28th.

The Erskine Fire was a wildfire in the Lake Isabella area of Kern County. [1] It was the second-largest wildfire of the 2016 California wildfire season. It was also the first fire of the year to have fatalities and is the 15th most destructive fire in state history. [3]

Contents

Progression

The fire, which was first reported around 4:00 p.m. PST on June 23, quickly grew to over 8,000 acres (32 km2) and destroyed over 100 structures, including at least 80 residences, in the first few hours. [4]

By mid-day on June 24, the fire had grown to over 19,000 acres (77 km2) and was still 0% contained. [2] By 6:00pm that day, officials confirmed that the fire had grown to over 30,000 acres (120 km2) with 5% contained. [5] That evening, Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Kern County. [6]

On June 28, Kern County Fire Department confirmed that 257 homes had been destroyed by the fire. [7]

On July 1, Two Red Cross Shelters were set up north of Lake Isabella. [8]

On July 11, the fire was 100% contained. [3] The cost of suppressing the fire came to $23 million, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. [9]

Effects

On June 24, officials confirmed that 2 people had been killed by the fast moving fire. [2] Officials also stated that cadaver dogs were being used to search for possible additional victims. [5] The deceased victims were an elderly couple who died while attempting to flee their home. [10]

On June 25, a third set of remains was found, though the body had been burned so badly that it is unclear whether or not the remains belong to a human or an animal. [11] On June 27, the Kern County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the remains belonged to an animal and not to a human. [12]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Erskine Fire". InciWeb . Archived from the original on June 29, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Vives, Ruben (24 June 2016). "Officials confirm 2 deaths in out-of-control fire in Kern County". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Erskine Fire officially 100% contained". 11 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  4. "BREAKING NEWS: Officials estimate 80 homes lost in Lake Isabella wildfire". BakersfieldNow. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  5. 1 2 Kuzj, Steve (24 June 2016). "2 Dead, Nearly 30,000 Acres Burned in Erskine Fire in Lake Isabella". KTLA. KTLA. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  6. Healy, Patrick; Lloyd, Jonathan (24 June 2016). "State of Emergency Declared for Deadly Kern County Wildfire". NBC Los Angeles . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  7. "KCFD confirms 257 homes destroyed in Erskine Fire". KERO. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  8. "Erskine Fire News Release". The National Wildfire Coordinating Group. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  9. Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2016 (PDF) (Report). National Interagency Coordination Center. 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  10. Johnson, Alex (26 June 2016). "Death Toll Could Rise in Central California Wildfire, Authorities Warn". NBC News . Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  11. "Possible human remains found in deadly California wildfire". foxnews.com. Associated Press. 25 June 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  12. Pastore, Jeanne (27 June 2016). "KCSO says remains found Saturday in area burned by Erskine Fire were animal remains". KGET-TV . Retrieved 27 June 2016.