UPDATE:
On Monday, CalTrans tweeted that the right lane of SB I-5 from Grapevine to Fort Tejon will be closed until 5 p.m. near Lebec as fire crews put out hot spots from brush fire that began Sunday.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Right lane of SB I-5 from Grapevine to Fort Tejon CLOSED until approximately 5 pm near #Lebec due to fire dept. putting out hot spots from brush fire that began Sunday (7/21). Caltrans is clearing fallen trees, downed power poles and debris. #BeWorkZoneAlert pic.twitter.com/vY1tAoZIqn
— Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) July 22, 2019
ORIGINAL STORY:
According to Kern County Fire officials, around 3:30 p.m. the department received multiple calls for a grass fire on the roadside of the Southbound I-5 Freeway just north of the Fort Tejon exit.
Arriving crews were faced with two separate fires a quarter mile apart. Officials say the southern most fire was a threat to Digier Canyon including approximately 200 residential homes. A mandatory evacuation was ordered and an evac center was established at Frazier Mountain High School.
Multiple strike teams including air resources were called in to battle the flames. At this time forward progress of both fires have been stopped. Acreage scorched include a total of 225 acres. The evacuation order has now been lifted for the Digier community. No structures were lost, no injuries were reported.
The Kern County Fire Department would like to remind residents to register with ReadyKern.com. This free notification service rapidly disseminates time-sensitive messages, to every telephone number and e-mail address stored in the notification database.
Emergency officials say two vegetation fires burning in Tejon has scorched more than 200 acres near the I-5 and Grapevine, prompting evacuations in the area.
Communities in the Digier Canyon have been evacuated to a local school, but no injuries have been reported, according to the Kern County Fire Department.
Both fires were reported around 3:30 p.m., near the I-5 and Grapevine.
KCFD says the southern most fire is still moving forward, burning more than 150 acres and is at 35 percent containment. The fire is blazing about 100 yards away from several homes, but no structures have been damaged yet, according to officials.
The northern most fire is at 85 percent containment and has stopped moving forward.
CHP says traffic along I-5 is backed up in both directions, but no closures have been made yet.
Valerie Ramos, a woman traveling down the I-5 sent 23ABC News several photos of the fire. Smoke can be seen near the I-5 and along the Grapevine.
Officials are still investigating the cause of both fires.
