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| California wildfire prompts calls for evacuation of 500 homes | California wildfire prompts calls for evacuation of 500 homes |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A smoky wildfire burning in southern California forced calls for the evacuation of some 500 homes, authorities said. | A smoky wildfire burning in southern California forced calls for the evacuation of some 500 homes, authorities said. |
| The Kern County sheriff's office said late on Saturday night that the evacuation call was for parts of the Wofford Heights area, about 30 miles north-east of Bakersfield and near Lake Isabella, a popular recreation spot. | |
| The blaze had grown to 810 acres by late Saturday night and was just 5% contained, federal fire officials said. Flames were visible in Wofford Heights, which was about a mile north of where the blaze was most active. | The blaze had grown to 810 acres by late Saturday night and was just 5% contained, federal fire officials said. Flames were visible in Wofford Heights, which was about a mile north of where the blaze was most active. |
| On Sunday, Forest Service spokeswoman Cindy Thill said officials expected the fire to have grown considerably since Saturday night. | |
| Thill said deputies walked the streets with bullhorns and knocked on doors overnight to warn residents of the danger. | |
| The evacuations came after a day of changing conditions. | The evacuations came after a day of changing conditions. |
| Firefighters were "basically facing very erratic, shifting winds", Kern County fire department spokesman Leland Davis told the Associated Press. "We do try to strongly advise people to get out of the area." | Firefighters were "basically facing very erratic, shifting winds", Kern County fire department spokesman Leland Davis told the Associated Press. "We do try to strongly advise people to get out of the area." |
| Davis said about 450 personnel were involved in fighting the blaze, which was spotted on Friday. | Davis said about 450 personnel were involved in fighting the blaze, which was spotted on Friday. |
| "It was in very remote area with some homes … kind of a popular recreation destination," Davis said. | "It was in very remote area with some homes … kind of a popular recreation destination," Davis said. |
| The officials warned that smoke could cause respiratory problems for some people in the area. | The officials warned that smoke could cause respiratory problems for some people in the area. |
| The Bakersfield Californian reported that at Cheryl's Diner in Kernville, a few miles north-east of the fire, business went on as usual and was unaffected by the smoke. | The Bakersfield Californian reported that at Cheryl's Diner in Kernville, a few miles north-east of the fire, business went on as usual and was unaffected by the smoke. |
| Waitress Michelle Walker said that several firefighters came in throughout the day. | Waitress Michelle Walker said that several firefighters came in throughout the day. |
| "It's the talk of the whole valley," Walker said of the wildfire. | "It's the talk of the whole valley," Walker said of the wildfire. |
| More than 660 wildfires have already broken out across southern California this year, destroying dozens of homes as officials ordered thousands of evacuations, including a state of emergency in San Diego county. Governor Jerry Brown linked the increasing severity of fires to climate change, and predicted the "worst" wildfire season in California's history. | More than 660 wildfires have already broken out across southern California this year, destroying dozens of homes as officials ordered thousands of evacuations, including a state of emergency in San Diego county. Governor Jerry Brown linked the increasing severity of fires to climate change, and predicted the "worst" wildfire season in California's history. |
| "Normally, I don't even put wildfire gear in my vehicle until the end of April. This year I never took it out," Kirk Kushen, battalion chief of the Kern County Fire Department, told the Associated Press. "We never really completed the 2013 fire season. It's been a continuation." | "Normally, I don't even put wildfire gear in my vehicle until the end of April. This year I never took it out," Kirk Kushen, battalion chief of the Kern County Fire Department, told the Associated Press. "We never really completed the 2013 fire season. It's been a continuation." |
| The state's historic drought has created tinderbox conditions, worrying officials who told the Guardian they fear wildfires "outside of any normal bounds". | The state's historic drought has created tinderbox conditions, worrying officials who told the Guardian they fear wildfires "outside of any normal bounds". |