The Cedar wildfire that started west of Kernville in Kern County on August 16, 2016 has expanded from 9,500 acres on August 19 to 14,543 acres on August 20. The fire located 42 miles northeast of Bakersfield is currently 5 percent contained and has prompted 1,058 personnel to be dispatched to fight the perimeter.

This is one among several active fires in Southern California Including the Chimney Fire, the Blue Cut Fire, the Rey Fire and the Pine Fire.

Mandatory Evacuations for Kern and Tulare Counties and Forest Closures

Several Kern and Tulare County communities including Alta Sierra, Slick Rock and Shirley Meadows as well as Rosey, Pine Flat, Pine Morgan, Sugar Loaf, California Hot Springs, Panorama Heights, McClenny Tract, Sugar Creek Mountain Homes, White River Summer Homes, Portuguese Meadows, Balance Rock, Idlewild and Poso Peak have been ordered to follow mandatory evacuations as of Friday morning in August 19. In addition, the fire has forced the Sequoia National Forest to issue closures for lands, roads and trails near the fire as of Saturday August. 20.

Cedar Fire Perimeter and Maps

Estimated Containment Date

Based on the report found in InciWeb (Incident Information System), the estimated containment date for the fire is Thursday, September 15, 2016 - exactly one month after it initiated. This shows the magnitude and intensity of the fire which is described in the following manner by the governmental website:

Fire is well established in drought-stressed and bug-killed timber, resulting in an active, deep-seated fire. Poor relative-humidity recovery supported active night-time fire behavior, including torching and short-range spotting.

Road Closures

Highway 155 at the eastern junction of Pascoe Road on the west side to the Sequoia National Forest boundary on the east will remain closed as well as Forest Highway 90 from Highway 155 to Portuguese Pass and Old State Road in Wofford Heights at its junction with Mountain Shadow Road will remain closed.

Community Meeting Tonight in Wofford Heights

A meeting for the public will be held the night of Saturday, Aug. 20 at 6:30 p.m. local time. It will be held at Faith Community Church in 20 Panorama Drive, Wofford Heights and organized by the California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 and Kern County Fire Department personnel, with representatives from the Sequoia National Forest and the Kern County Sheriff's Office.