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Erskine Fire Update June 30, 2016 8:00 AM

Fire Information: 760-376-3781 8:00 AM–4:30 PM

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4806/#

Fire Start: June 23, 2016

Size: 46,684 acres Location: Lake Isabella

Percent Contained: 70 Cause: Under investigation

Total Personnel: 1,326 Costs to Date: $17.5 million

Unified Command: USFS, BLM, Kern County Fire Department, Kern County Sheriff

Southern California Edison anticipates power will be restored to all areas of the fire at some point today. The damage assessment team has completed their report and these will be the final numbers: 12 damaged single residences, 285 destroyed single residences and one destroyed commercial property. The commercial property destroyed was an AT&T microwave cell hub.

Today’s Fire Summary: Fire behavior has been minimal the past 24 hours and is expected to remain so as crews continue to work to complete hand line on the southwestern edge of the fire from Pack Trail to Landers Meadow. While fire behavior has moderated, the fire danger in the area has not and fire restrictions are in place.

"We are shifting from suppression mode to recovery mode, and that’s important to this community," Incident Commander Mike Minton said.

Crews are repairing firelines, roads and other areas of the fire affected by suppression activity to reduce potential for erosion and a more natural state.

Smoke might be visible for the next several days within the fire perimeter. When reporting smoke, it’s important to note if the smoke is a new start or from unburned areas within the fire’s interior. Response to the report will be dispatched as appropriate.

U.S. Forest Service Campgrounds Open: Sequoia National Forest campgrounds—Old Isabella, Auxiliary, Paradise Cove and South Fork—along California 178 are open. Auxiliary is the only one with water.

Homeowner Re-entry: There are no evacuations in place. Residents can return to their homes with ID for proof of residency. Kern County’s Office of Emergency Services’ transition center at Wallace Elementary is open from 9 am to 6 pm. The Sikh Friends of Bakersfield is serving lunch at Kern Valley High School from 11 am to 5 pm through Sunday. For more information, call Kern County Emergency Operations Center at 661-873-2660 from 8 am to 8 pm.

Shelters: Shelters for affected residents—at St. Jude Catholic Church in Wofford Heights and Kernville Elementary School—will remain open until further notice. The Red Cross Safe and Well website is https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php.

Drone Intrusion: An UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems), commonly referred to a "drone," intrusion occurred over the Erskine Fire, requiring air operations to be grounded for a period of time. All UAS, of any size or weight, are considered aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and are

subject to FAA regulations. UAS may not be flown within a temporary flight restriction (TFR) under any circumstances without prior approval by FAA and the agency that requested the TFR. Remember: if you fly, we can’t.