Evacuation orders for Stagecoach Fire lifted, fire 98% contained

UPDATE (Aug. 13, 7:00 P.M.) California Interagency Incident Management Team 15 has issued its last update on the Stagecoach Fire. Containment has reached 99% with 7,760 acres scorched.

UPDATE (Aug. 12, 7:22 P.M.) KCFD reports the Stagecoach fire has reached 98% containment. Four structures have been damaged, 23 home destroyed. All remaining evacuations associated with the Stagecoach Fire have been lifted. Crews continue to secure, patrol, and monitor the fire’s edge using water to cool areas as needed. Suppression repair efforts will also continue as containment has increased to 98%. As complexities decrease management of the fire will be transitioned from the Type 2 Incident Management Team to a local Type 3 Team at 7:00 Friday morning, August 14

UPDATE (Aug. 12, 3:22 P.M.) All evacuations and road closures in place for the area affected by the Stagecoach Fire have been lifted as the fire reached 91% containment.

UPDATE (Aug. 11, 7:45 A.M.) The Stagecoach Fire remains at 7,760 acres and is now 83% contained. One injury has been reported in connection to the fire.

Firefighters continue to mop up and secure the fire lines. Crews continue to focus on areas of concern which is the east side of the fire and adjacent to structures.

Suppression repair has started with rehabbing control lines in areas that are mopped up and secured. Afternoon winds of 30 mph are expected today and fire crews will be in place in case when the lines are tested.

UPDATE (Aug. 10, 7:45 P.M.) The Stagecoach Fire is still at 7,760 acres and is now 77% contained. So far, the blaze has destroyed 15 homes and 25 outbuildings. It has also damaged 5 structures and left one person injured.

A CalFire structure assessment team is currently surveying fire damaged properties.

Officials said they are preparing for high winds on Tuesday afternoon because they say it could lead to erratic fire behavior and high rates of spread.

UPDATE: (Aug. 9, 7:26 P.M.) The Stagecoach Fire has destroyed 12 homes and 25 outbuildings and is 64% contained, according to the Kern County Fire Department. So far, the fire has burned 7,760 acres. KCFD says they expect full containment by August 12.

UPDATE (Aug. 9, 9:15 A.M.) The Kern County Fire Department reports the Stagecoach fire is 57% contained. So far, the inferno has scorched 7,760 acres and has destroyed 29 structures.

UPDATE (Aug. 8, 6:10 P.M.): The Kern County Fire Department reports the Stagecoach fire is 46% contained. So far, the inferno has scorched 7,748 acres and has destroyed 29 structures.

UPDATE (Aug. 7, 6:40 P.M.): KCFD reported the Stagecoach fire has scorched 7,748 acres. It has reached 31% contained. 29 structures have been destroyed.

UPDATE (Aug. 7, 5:50 P.M.): The following detail about areas under recommended and precautionary evacuation have been updated by ReadyKern:

THE FOLLOWING AREAS REMAIN UNDER RECOMMENDED EVACUATION:

Caliente Bodfish Rd east to Piute Mountain Rd, from the area south of School St to JUST SOUTH OF HERITAGE WAY -and- Saddle Springs Rd/Piute Mountain Rd as it goes near the following areas, listed in alphabetical order: Burton Mill, Clear Creek, Cold Spring, Liebel Peak, Piute Peak, Piute Spring, Rocky Point, and Saddle Spring.

A recommended evacuation means that the Stagecoach Fire is still an imminent threat and all persons in the evacuation area continue to be strongly advised to leave and seek shelter away from the fire area. A recommended evacuation will likely be the last warning given.

THE FOLLOWING AREAS HAVE BEEN DOWNGRADED FROM RECOMMENDED TO PRECAUTIONARY EVACUATION:

DAILEY RD EAST TO THE WEST END OF GOLDEN SPUR, BETWEEN THE TOP OF INDIAN OAK LOOP SOUTH TO WILLIAMS RD -AND- WILLIAMS RD SOUTH TO WALKER BASIN RD, BETWEEN JOHNS RD EAST TO THE EAST END OF DOUGLAS AVE.

A precautionary evacuation means that the wildland fire may become a threat in the near future, and all residents are advised to be prepared to leave the area at a moment’s notice if it becomes necessary.

EFFECTIVE 6:00 P.M. TONIGHT, THE FOLLOWING EVACUATIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED:

The west end of Old Ox Rd east to Caliente Bodfish Rd, between Quail Canyon Rd south to Foxtail Canyon Rd -and- the west end of Owls Clover Rd/Malivan Rd east to the east end of Kendall Rd, between Erdle Dr south to Piute Meadows Rd.

Fire Department staff, vehicles, and equipment remain in the area. Residents should exercise caution around them.

A Temporary Evacuation Point continues to be available at the parking lot of the former K-Mart at 710 W Tehachapi Blvd. in Tehachapi.

UPDATE (Aug. 7, 12 P.M.): The Stagecoach Fire has now burned approximately 7,000 acres, destroyed 13 structures and is at 27% containment, according to the Kern County Fire Department. Evacuations remain in effect.

UPDATE (Aug. 7, 8:50 A.M.): Kern County Fire reports the Stagecoach Fire is now burning 7,750 acres. Containment is still at 27% and evacuations are still in effect.

UPDATE (Aug. 7, 6:50 A.M.): Officials with the California Fire State Management Incident Team tell 23ABC the Stagecoach Fire is now 27% contained. It's still covering 7,000 acres. Evacuations are still in effect.

UPDATE (Aug. 6, 8:23 P.M.): According to KCFD, the Stagecoach Fire has now destroyed 13 structures and damaged one. The fire is approximately 7,000 acres and 15% contained. Evacuations remain in effect.

UPDATE (Aug. 6, 7:18 P.M.): According to KCFD the Stagecoach Fire has burned 7,000 acres and they have reached 15% containment. Evacuations remain in effect.

UPDATE (Aug. 6, 5:32 P.M.): According to the Kern County Fire Department, the Stagecoach Fire has destroyed 10 structures and damaged 1 more. There have been no injuries.

Road closures: include Saddle springs Rd 27502 from Cal-Bodfish Rd to the intersection with Paiute Mtn. Piute Mtn from Walker Basin to the intersection with Jawbone Canyon Road. Trails within this area have also been closed. Recommended Evacuations: 1. The area west of Old Ox Road east to Caliente Bodfish Road, between Quail Canyon Road south to Foxtail Canyon Road. 2. Caliente Bodfish Road east to Piute Mountain Road, from the area south of School Street to Walker Basin Road.

So far, 51 engines, 5 tenders, 10 air tankers, 17 fire crews, 10 helicopters, 7 bulldozers and 775 personnel have been involved in fighting the fire. Cooperating agencies include Cal Fire, Kern County Fire Department, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Kern County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol, Cal OES, and the American Red Cross.

UPDATE (Aug. 6, 3:22 P.M.): The Kern County Fire Department announced new recommended evacuation orders for Saddle Springs Rd. and Piute Mountain Rd.

KCFD said the fire is nearing the following areas: Burton Mill, Clear Creek, Cold Spring, Liebel Peak, Piute Peak, Piute Springs, Rocky Point, and Saddle Spring.

Previous evacuations remain in place.

UPDATE (Aug. 6, 10:50 A.M.): The Stagecoach Fire has now burned 6,700 acres and remains at 10% containment according to the Bureau of Land Management Fire and Aviation.

So far the fire burning up in Havilah has destroyed two structures and damaged one.

According to KCFD evacuations remain in effect.

UPDATE (Aug. 5, 9:30 P.M.): The Stagecoach Fire has destroyed two structures and damaged one.

UPDATE (Aug. 5, 7 P.M.): The Stagecoach Fire has burned 4,250 acres and has reached 10% containment, according to Kern County Fire.

According to KCFD evacuations remain in effect.

UPDATE (Aug. 5, 9 A.M.): The Stagecoach Fire has burned 4,100 acres and has reached 10% containment, according to Kern County Fire.

KCFD said the fire is burning in a northeast direction. Structures in Paiute Meadows and Thompson Canyon are still under threat.

There are no reported injuries.

There was relatively low activity overnight, but officials said that could change as the sun comes up and it starts heating up.

Kern County firefighters have been working around the clock to fight the blaze, many coming straight from fighting the Pond Fire.

UPDATE (Aug. 4, 8:53 P.M.): KCFD reported the Stagecoach Fire has reached 3,500 acres with 5% of it contained.

Two structures have been destroyed, one has been damaged.

According to KCFD, the expected containment is by Aug. 17.

KCFD issued the following statement:

UPDATE (Aug. 4, 7:35 P.M.): Cal Fire reported Tuesday evening "Stagecoach Fire" has scorched 3,054 acres and is 5% contained. All evacuation orders remain in effect.

So far the fire has consumed two structures and sent several families to the America Red Cross seeking help.

The fire broke out around 3:30 p.m. Monday in the area of Stagecoach Drive and Old Ox Road in Havilah, south of Lake Isabella.

Multiple evacuations have been issued for residents in the area.

Recommended evacuations:

• The area west of Caliente Bodfish Rd. in Piute Meadows
• The area north of Walker Basin Rd. & east of Caliente Bodfish Rd.

Precautionary evacuations:

• The area off Indian Oaks Rd, east of Caliente Bodfish Rd.

The American Red Cross has established a temporary evacuation point at the old K-Mart parking lot in Tehachapi located at 701 W. Tehachapi Blvd. in response to the fire.

Kern County Animal Services has set up a temporary emergency animal shelter. It's been set up at the Tehachapi Education Center at 126 S. Snyder Ave. in Tehachapi.

This is still a developing story, stay with 23ABC for updates.