Map: School Fire west of Grapevine, biggest California wildfire this year

A wind-whipped wildfire in Kern County quickly passed 1,000 acres on Thursday afternoon and prompted an evacuation warning.

Related Articles

Crashes and Disasters |


As Californians mitigate wildfire threats, why is there still an insurance crisis?

Crashes and Disasters |


The CZU fire burned 911 homes. A huge new project aims to reduce the risk of the next one.

Crashes and Disasters |


PG&E profits hop higher, company raises already rosy outlook for 2024

Crashes and Disasters |


Allstate will insure California homes again, under one condition

Crashes and Disasters |


Climate change supercharged a heat dome, intensifying 2021 fire season, study finds

The School Fire was reported at 1:41 p.m. east of the city of Maricopa. By 3 p.m. it had burned 1,000 acres, and an evacuation warning was issued for a rural area south of Highway 166.

Within three hours, forward progress had been stopped and the warning was lifted, said a report from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

As of 7 a.m. Friday, May 3, the burned area was at 1,479 acres (2.3 square miles) and containment was 50%, CalFire said. The cause was under investigation.

It was the largest of the 10 wildfires logged by CalFire so far this year. Last week’s Refuge Fire burned 475 acres in Fresno County; an Inyo County fire in early April destroyed four structures and forced the evacuation of the community of Cartago.

You May Also Like

More From Author