mostly nonfiction and bakersfield news | July 3rd, 2009
North Bakersfield: Are Fireworks To Blame For 5 Fires On Highway 99?
Fire officials said five fires broke out along Highway 99 in north Bakersfield Friday afternoon but didn’t say whether fireworks were to blame.
According to the Kern County Fire Department, at approximately 3:18 p.m., calls were received for five separate grassfires off Highway 99 between Airport Drive and Olive Drive.
“There was smoke everywhere and a couple of fire trucks,” said Landen Belardes. He took photos of the smoky freeway, burnt plants and traffic congestion while his brother Jordan drove. “Traffic was almost to a stop.”
Fire officials said crews faced numerous fires burning along a stretch of highway with one fire spotting across the freeway. Crews quickly extinguished the fires with one storage container taking minimal damage. Officials said as of 4:00 p.m. all fires were under control with crews remaining on scene to mop up.
The California Highway Patrol assisted with traffic control on the Highway. No injuries were reported. Fire officials did say the fires did not appear to be intentionally set, but are under investigation.
Approximately 14 firefighters responded to the incident from Kern County Fire Department.
Fire on Highway 99 in north Bako
Kern County fire truck at scene of fire…
Smoke from Highway 99 fire
*****************************
Get Face News updates via cell phone: www.twitter.com/nickbelardes
2 Responses for “North Bakersfield: Are Fireworks To Blame For 5 Fires On Highway 99?”
Leave a Reply
That stretch of 99 is right outside my house. I saw the smoke but, I didn’t hear anything that sounded like fireworks.
Yep,I was right there.Caltrans even put up a sign right after you entered 99 from Olive southbound that drivers needed to “prepare to stop or slow” or something like that.I was headed to the radio station and there were several fire trucks all the way up to California avenue.I figured it was something w/fireworks.Hope they find out..