The golden mussel first made landfall in North America in 2024 and has quickly spread throughout California waterways, with the bulk of sightings in Northern California, according to a dashboard hosted by California Fish and Wildlife. Experts say the species can create serious problems for water systems in a short time.

Art Chianello, the Kern River Watermaster, said the mussel's rapid reproduction makes it a significant threat to local infrastructure.

"The golden mussel population increases very quickly, and because of that, the golden mussel is a very high-maintenance problem. We want to prevent it from getting into water treatment plants, getting into various canals downstream that divert water from the Kern River, and we just basically we want to keep it out of the Kern River and out of Lake Isabella as well."

Chianello said there are no signs of the golden mussel in waterways like Lake Isabella and officials want to keep it that way. Boaters bringing vessels in from other lakes are being asked to follow what officials call the golden rule: Clean, Drain, and Dry.

Steve Pinheiro, owner of Galey's Marine Supply, said boaters need to know their own vessel thoroughly.

"It's part of a maintenance process, right, to clean, drain, and dry your boat. You got to go through the boat top to bottom, front and back. Make sure you're pulling drain plugs. That is definitely an issue. Some boats have 2 or 3 drain plugs, and people don't always pull all of them. They pull the one that's easy to get to and end up with some water in the bilge area that's trapped somewhere where they can't see it, like under the engine or back in tight corners."

Pinheiro said the golden mussel presents a unique challenge because it can be extremely small in the early stages of its life cycle, and small crevices on boats can hide water for days or even weeks at a time. He said he would like to see a more proactive approach, including decontamination stations.

"That's something we definitely need to make happen, probably sooner rather than later, because that's the only way to be proactive about this. As much as people can try to clean things properly. If a little bit of water is left in that bag and that bag has a couple of the mussels in it and they spread to another lake, there's no stopping it from there without being proactive."

Making sure a boat is dry and flushed out with fresh water is an important step boaters can take this summer to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

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Nearly two years after the Borel Fire devastated the town of Havilah and surrounding areas burning nearly 60,000 acres recovery remains a long road. It can take years, even decades, for a pre-fire state to return, and even longer for full forest restoration.

A drone company called Hylio, founded by several University of Texas students, is working to change that. The company, built for a variety of applications, recently shipped its 1,000th drone.

Hylio CEO and co-founder Arthur Erickson said the company's use in wildland fire reseeding came through a Canadian company in 2021-22, when they asked him about using drones for post-fire reforestation.

"They would go to the mountainsides, which are normally quite difficult to traverse by foot or with other vehicles, and instead use our drones to drop they had created a proprietary puck of dirt, so to speak, not just dirt, but nutrients and they would, using a proprietary launcher system they had created mounted to a drone, plant tens of thousands of seeds in these pods into the ground on the mountainsides per day," Erickson said.

The company sells to individual farmers, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the USDA, the Army, and the Bureau of Land Management. The drones have also been used for prescribed burns, launching flaming projectiles to ignite controlled burns.

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A proposed restoration project could bring new life to parts of the Lower Kern River.

A presentation to the Bakersfield Water Board outlined plans to restore more than 670 acres along the Kern River Parkway. The project aims to create new habitat, improve wildlife corridors, and add shade and recreational opportunities for the community.

The first phase of the project would cover about 137 acres south of the Kern River near Truxtun Lake.

The total project cost is estimated at $4.3 million. Most of the funding is expected to come from state grants.

If approved, site preparation and planting could begin as soon as the fall of 2027, with full completion expected in 2032.

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A domestic violence suspect faces multiple charges after leading deputies on a pursuit, crashing his vehicle, and pointing a gun at officers before surrendering.

The Kern County Sheriff's Office released new footage from a deputy-involved shooting that occurred last month along Highway 178 in Onyx.

Deputies responded to a domestic violence call in Weldon on March 13. The suspect escaped, leading deputies on a pursuit that ended when the suspect crashed into another vehicle near Doyle Ranch Road and barricaded himself inside his car.

Deputies gave multiple commands for the suspect to surrender. The deputy-involved shooting occurred after the suspect pointed a gun at officers.

No one was shot or wounded during the incident. Deputies continued negotiations until the suspect eventually surrendered.

The suspect was taken into custody and faces multiple charges.

KCSO said an internal review found the use of force was within department policy.

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The 35th annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby is set for March 28-30, and anglers far and wide are invited to be part of the derby.

Fred Clark, chairman of the derby, says the event is entirely volunteer-run, and the team spends most of the year preparing for it. All of the proceeds, he says, go directly to the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce to support the local economy.

Clark says he's seen the event evolve over the years. In 2008, there was a record number of participants, with around 8,000 anglers vying for the prize money. Since then, the numbers have gone down slightly, Clark says, but he enjoys welcoming any and all participants to the region.

This year, there is $85,000 in total prize money. Families and anglers of all ages in California and beyond are invited to take part, Clark says.

For more information on the event or how to sign up, visit their Facebook page or the chamber of commerce website.

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Our featured pet of the week on Wag Wednesday is Huck, available to adopt now from SOS Dog Rescue! Huck is an approximately seven-month-old Pitbull. He is incredibly sweet, good with other dogs, and knows basic commands.

Robbie Miller, the founder of SOS Dog Rescue, says Huck would do well in most home environments. He is still a puppy, so he needs exercise and structure to build that mutual trust with his new family. He is crate trained, leash trained, and again, a very affectionate dog!

For more information or to inquire about adopting, visit https://www.strengthofshadow.org/adopt-1. To learn more about spay and neuter services and upcoming clinics, visit https://www.kernsafe.org/spay-neuter.

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As wintry weather continues to impact the Kern River Valley, Caltrans is preparing to introduce a new winter road treatment method to the area. The transportation agency plans to add salt brine applications to Kern River Valley roads in preparation for future snow and ice storms, starting next winter season.

During a conversation on Wednesday, Caltrans District 6 Public Information Officer Christian Lukens explained the upcoming change.

"There are areas in the state where Caltrans does use a salt brine. That is a system that will be coming to Lake Isabella, a replacement system, likely in time for the next winter season." Lukens said.

The new salt brine system differs significantly from the sand currently used on area roads. Salt brine lowers the freezing temperature of water and allows snow and ice to melt off the roadway much faster than it would normally. Sand, by contrast, is laid down on roadways as an abrasive material that gives vehicles something to grip onto in snowy and icy conditions.

Lukens noted that both techniques do not conflict and would be used situationally when Caltrans deems they'll better serve drivers in the area. The agency expects salt brine applicators to be ready for use next winter.

However, automotive professionals in areas where salt brine is already used have raised concerns about potential vehicle damage.

"I see plenty of beautiful cars on the outside, and then you look underneath, like, holy crap. This is, like, comparable to pictures you see of the Titanic," said Bill Fisher, owner of FHP Automotive on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe.

Fisher recalled that Caltrans began applying salt brine to roadways near him about a decade ago. In his experience, salt brine creates more problems for drivers than benefits.

"It does create a lot of rust, which, then again, we have to put in different kinds of parts and more parts," Fisher said. "I hate seeing it cost more money, you know, for them to have to replace five different parts, when it could just be one."

Caltrans disputed these concerns in a statement, saying the salt brine solution is administered using a calibrated control system in a ratio that does not cause corrosion. The agency added that no environmental impacts have been reported from usage of the salt brine solution.

Fisher says he still recommends that drivers protect their vehicles from potential rust damage by using car washes that spray the undercarriage of a vehicle to remove any debris or brine that accumulates underneath.

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For the first time in two years, snow has returned to parts of the Kern River Valley, creating a mixed bag of excitement and challenges for local residents and businesses.

Alta Sierra Ski Resort is preparing to reopen after being closed for two years, according to Steve Holloway, who dubs himself "one of the worst snowmakers in the world," with Holloway adding he has been fielding calls from eager visitors.

"They're excited. People have been calling in to see if they can get rental gear? Yes. Can they take a lesson? Yes. Is the tubing park open? Yes," Holloway said.

Families were spotted enjoying the fresh powder on the mountain, including Michael Porter and his family, who were building snowmen and having snowball fights.

we asked Porter.

"Awesome, love being with the kids out here to have some fun," Porter said.

The snowfall wasn't just bringing joy it also disrupted daily routines. Schools in the Caliente and Tehachapi school districts closed for the day due to weather conditions.

Robin Shive, Superintendent of the Caliente Union School District, said snow closures are a common occurrence that schools plan for throughout the year.

"We look at the forecast. If the forecast says that there's sunshine, then sometimes we just go with a two or three-hour delay, but like we saw with the severe warnings going on for our weather. So, we went ahead and went with a full closure knowing that we'd get more snow today," Shive said.

Similar to how schools in the San Joaquin Valley monitor fog conditions in early morning hours, mountain schools check for snow and ice on days like this, according to Shive.

Caltrans officials are urging drivers to exercise extreme caution if they venture out in the snowy conditions.

"If you are going to go out, make sure you're driving with an abundance of caution... allot yourself that extra time. Make sure you have kind of extra give yourself that extra space to get there safely and make sure you're traveling with essentials," said Christian Lukens, CalTrans District 6 Public Information Officer

For those planning to enjoy the snow, officials recommend driving slowly, allowing extra travel time and keeping an emergency kit in vehicles.

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Survivors of wildfires and other natural disasters in California can receive up to $100,000 in free mortgage relief through the state's Cal Assist Mortgage Relief Program.

The expanded program offers a full year of free mortgage payments to disaster survivors, with increased income limits to help more families qualify for assistance.

Kern County has experienced numerous devastating wildfires where countless residents lost their homes, including the Borel Fire in Kernville two years ago that destroyed entire neighborhoods.

"Recovering from a disaster takes time, and we want to be that support system as you're rebuilding, no matter what phase you are in the recovery process," said CalHFA Chief Deputy Director Rebecca Franklin.

The program provides crucial financial support during the lengthy recovery process that follows natural disasters, allowing families to focus on rebuilding their lives without the burden of mortgage payments.

Anyone interested in applying for the free mortgage relief can visit calassistmortgagefund.org to begin the application process.

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The Kern County Sheriff's Office has released new bodycam footage of a deadly deputy-involved shooting that occurred January 11 on Highway 178 in Lake Isabella.

The shooting happened after authorities were called to the area following reports of a man shooting a gun. That man has been identified as 39-year-old Fernando Padilla.

The video shows deputies attempting to de-escalate the situation before using non-lethal force. After deputies continued commanding Padilla to drop his gun and get on the ground, they warned him they would use force.

Padilla was pronounced dead on the scene.

Deputies Tyler Lathouwers and Caleb Smith were placed on routine administrative leave during the investigation. The use of force was determined to be within policy.

The incident began around 9:40 p.m. on January 10 when deputies responded to a domestic violence call in the 1700 block of Kilbreth Avenue. During that investigation, Padilla refused to communicate with deputies, and the victim was transported to a safe location. Deputies learned Padilla was armed and possibly suicidal but had not threatened anyone with the firearm. Deputies chose to disengage as a de-escalation strategy due to the suspect's mental state and the misdemeanor nature of the initial crime.

About three hours later, at approximately 12:40 a.m., multiple 911 calls reported shots fired near the 5300 block of Lake Isabella Boulevard. Deputies determined Padilla was unlawfully discharging a firearm in a populated area, showing "wanton disregard for human life."

Deputies first contacted Padilla at 12:50 a.m., but he ignored commands and fled on foot. The pursuit lasted more than 20 minutes, during which deputies employed multiple de-escalation strategies including activating overhead lights, using loudspeakers to identify themselves, and requesting additional resources such as the Crisis Negotiation Team, Air Support, Drone Team, K-9 unit and allied agencies.

Deputies followed Padilla for more than a mile, giving multiple verbal commands and opportunities to comply. As Padilla began walking westbound in the eastbound lanes of Highway 178, deputies warned him that force would be used.

Deputies first struck Padilla with a less-lethal 40mm round designed to deter or safely subdue suspects. Padilla responded by firing two rounds into the air. When deputies struck him with a second less-lethal round, Padilla turned to face deputies with the firearm in his hands, prompting the fatal shooting.

On February 4, the Kern County Sheriff's Office convened an Incident Review Board to examine the use of force. The board determined the use of force was within policy.

Anyone with additional information regarding this case is asked to contact the Kern County Sheriff's Office at (661) 861-3110 or Kern Secret Witness at (661) 322-4040.

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Our featured Pet of the Week on Wag Wednesday is Finn, a six-month-old puppy available for adoption from SOS Dog Rescue!

Robbie Miller, founder of SOS Dog Rescue, says they rescued Finn and his brother, Huck, from the Kern County shelter in November. They were both malnourished and had been through a tough situation, he said, but in the months they've been caring for them, he's seen them thrive.

Miller says Finn is putting on weight, getting leash and crate trained, plus other basic skills. He is a ball of love. When he arrived at the 23ABC studios, he greeted everyone with affection.

Finn is dog-friendly, energetic, and loving. Miller says he's young enough that he could be trained to coexist with cats, though they have not personally cat-tested him.

To learn more about Finn, visit https://www.strengthofshadow.org/adopt-1

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A man was fatally shot by Kern County Sheriff's deputies early Saturday morning after reports of gunfire in the Lake Isabella area.

Deputies responded to the area of Kilbreth Avenue and Lake Isabella Boulevard at approximately 1:40 a.m. on January 11 following reports of a male subject firing a handgun, according to the Kern County Sheriff's Office.

When deputies arrived, they made contact with the suspect, who then fled to the area of Highway 178. An officer-involved shooting occurred at that location.

Deputies provided medical aid to the suspect until medical personnel arrived. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The identity of the suspect has not been released and will be made available at a later date, officials said.

Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation. The Kern County Sheriff's Office investigates any use of deadly force by department members, and all investigations are submitted to the Kern County District Attorney's Office for criminal review.

Additional information will be released when the investigation concludes.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Kern County Sheriff's Office at (661) 861-3110 or Kern Secret Witness at (661) 322-4040.

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UPDATED STORY:

Just last week, I was here in Kernville telling you about how thieves stole items from the town's Christmas tree lighting event. But over the weekend those same thieves have had a change of heart.

Tricia La Belle Government Relations and Correspondent for the Kernville Chambers of Commerce said "This is a very small community everyone here knows each other. One way or another they are either related, went to school together, or they worked together its a small community. I think the word got out, and they got worried. We also had a tremendous amount of video footage of the people who committed the thefts, and we were able to ID them."

Officials say the theft was caught on security cameras and the video was turned over to the sheriff's office. And they add, they have a good idea of who may have taken the items, which were essential for the town's traditional Christmas tree lighting. Community members have helped along they way with donations and volunteering there time so the show still goes on and is a success.

Kitt Heilbron Volunteer said "That's exactly it, regardless Christmas in Kernville is happening. There was a lot on our Facebook page, and I think that actually helped them retrieve the items. There were numerous of people that actually contributed to the Chamber in order to buy additional items if we were to never get them back."

Tricia tells me this is her third year organizing the Christmas Tree lighting event, and the support from the community was overwhelming. From money, lights, plugs, bulbs and more, all donated. Up to now, however, whoever took the items has not been arrested.

"The people who donated the money to us, this money is helping with so many things to make this Christmas in Kernville even more special. I want the ones who contributed to making it a success to know it wouldn't be possible without you. We're looking to take it to the next level, and to make it even more special this year, for the gratitude that was given to the Chambers of Commerce." said La Belle

The Christmas Tree lighting will take place on Saturday November 29 at Circle Park.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Grinches of Kernville's Christmas plans grew a heart, as it turns out.

That's what the Kernville Chamber of Commerce says, reporting that many of the stolen Christmas items from Circle Park have been returned.

The chamber's statement on Facebook says the people of interest in the case are still being investigated and pursued by law enforcement.

The post also thanks the community, reading in part: "We want to offer a truly heartfelt thank you to every single person that stepped up those who helped track things down, those who shared information, and those who donated cash, decorations, lights, and their own volunteer time to keep the magic alive."

As previously reported, Gary Ananin, president of the Kernville Chamber of Commerce, described the scope of the theft.

"A lot of expensive electrical equipment was taken. Cords, spider boxes, everything that connects the power to the park. For all the trees to be lit, our 40 foot Christmas tree to be lit up. All of it was stolen," Ananin said.

The theft had threatened to derail Kernville's annual Christmas celebration this year at Circle Park.

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When Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year, the pharmacy chain shuttered locations across the country, including one in Lake Isabella. For several months, Kern River Valley residents had fewer options when it came to getting their prescriptions: stay local with Mesa Clinical Pharmacy, get them through the mail, or head out of the area to pick them up in either Bakersfield or Ridgecrest.

Eric Wright said he chose to get them through the mail for a short period, but found the service lacking.

"It was yet to be desired, they were okay in some things, but when I found First Care Pharmacy and met Eric, they helped me in ways that other stores wouldn't," Wright said.

For the last several months, Eric Martin, owner and operator of First Care Pharmacy in Bakersfield, saw an opportunity. By offering free delivery in the area, he's not only expanding his client base but also providing a vital service to the community.

"They need it, they're part of Kern County, and that's how I see it. We're all a big family here in Kern County, and they need it. They need these medications, a lot of them, like you said, live in remote places, but we can access them, we have the vehicles for it," Martin said.

Monday through Friday, delivery driver Patrick Liles makes his way up to the Kern River Valley, delivering prescription medicine and interacting with residents. He doesn't mind the drive one bit.

"Everybody asks me that, I don't, it's beautiful," Liles said.

For Liles, it's a great opportunity to provide something the community needs.

"People are incredibly grateful, honestly. Without this, most of them would not be able to get the medication they need. So it's great to be able to give it to them," Liles said.

Jo Robertson, a First Care Pharmacy patient, said the service is a welcome addition to the community.

"I had nowhere to go for my medications, which I'm on almost 18 different medications per day, and my daughter Brenda told me. I called them up and they had my delivery out here the next day," Robertson said.

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In this week's Wag Wednesday, we welcome Robbie Miller, founder of SOS Dog Rescue, back to studio B. This week, he brought one of the newest members of the rescue, a five-month-old puppy named Bart!

Bart was rescued from the Bakersfield City Shelter around two weeks ago, Miller said, and he's already learning so much since arriving at SOS Dog Rescue's ranch in the KRV. To learn more about the adoption process, visit strengthofshadow.org.

If you are looking for spay and neuter services, SOS Dog Rescue has an ongoing partnership with SNIP Bus mobile clinic. Miller says they are always looking for standbys for day-of appointments, and there are several opportunities to get your pet spayed or neutered in the coming weeks. Miller says to visit kernsafe.org to inquire about spay and neuter appointments.

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The Kernville Fall Festival drew about 1,000 visitors to Circle Park this weekend, offering families a chance to enjoy autumn activities in the heart of the mountain community.

The festival featured a pumpkin patch and, new this year, a petting zoo that proved to be a major attraction for attendees.

"We're really excited to be here and bring the animals and allow the community to see what we do and to be around the animals," said Melinda Alexander with Moonlight Youth Packers.

Alexander said their booth was particularly popular with festival-goers.

"Had a lot of people, we had a lot of people yesterday. The pig seems to be one of the main attractions. The donkey, everybody also really likes the donkey Banjo here," Alexander said.

The timing of the fall festival provides a crucial boost to local businesses during the slower autumn season, according to Kernville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Valerie Stone.

"Great for the businesses around town. We have all mom and pop shops here in Kernville, so we encourage people to come up and support our small businesses and also have some fun and enjoy the park, enjoy the river," Stone said.

Stone noted that business typically slows down after Labor Day, making the fall festival an important economic driver for the community.

Susan Gardenswartz and her husband made the trip from San Pedro specifically to attend the Kernville Fall Festival and said they enjoyed every aspect of the event.

"I thought it was really, really nice. I really enjoyed the pie eating contest. I've never witnessed one, and I thought it was so cute. And I enjoy looking at all the booths," Gardenswartz said.

"It's good to see kids out with the family and doing things outdoors and in this beautiful community," she said.

The next Kernville Fall Festival will take place again next year in October.

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In this week's Wag Wednesday, we welcome back Robbie Miller, founder of SOS Dog Rescue. He's hoping to find one of the rescue's longtime residents her forever home.

Patty, lovingly called "Miss Patty" or "Pitty Patty," is a two-year-old pitbull. Miller says the rescue first got Patty from the Bakersfield city shelter in June 2024, so she's been with the SOS team for over a year.

Miller says she's shy at first, but she is incredibly friendly with both people and other dogs. She is crate trained, knows how to walk on a leash (or on the treadmill if it's too hot or cold!) and she knows commands, plus a few tricks.

To inquire about adopting Patty, visit the SOS Dog Rescue website.

The rescue's major fundraiser of the year is coming up this Saturday, Oct. 18: Rivernook Campground's Music & Beer Fest. 100% of the proceeds benefit SOS Dog Rescue. To buy tickets to the event, visit the campground's website.

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Rivernook Campground in Kernville is making final preparations for the annual music and beer festival on Oct. 18.

For the second year in a row, organizers say 100% of proceeds from the festival benefit SOS Dog Rescue.

To learn more about the event, including the headline performers, visit the Rivernook Campground event page here.

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The Borel Fire reached full containment on this day one year ago, and even now, stories continue to ignite memories of the destruction and the desperate efforts by fire crews to save property, including their own.

I went back to Havilah to visit a U.S. Forest Service Work Center that was surrounded at the height of the firestorm and survived.

When the Borel Fire started in the Kern River Canyon, Daniel Wild with the Forest Service Kern River District was in his patrol unit, looking 'down' on it.

"My patrol area is above where the fire was, so I went up to look at things in advance of the fire," said Wild. During the initial 48 hours, the fire moved slowly, and many crews were able to be proactive, conducting further hazard reduction efforts, even at their own work center south of Havilah.

"We were limbing up all the trees, cutting down brush," said Ryan Lobre, a USFS Battalion Chief, "it didn't look necessarily scary or anything at that point."

But as we know now, on July 26th, high winds whipped the flames and embers into a firestorm, catching a large number of resources at the work center.

"I turned around and came into the parking lot here. There was fire running across this ridge, just behind station," said Lobre, "this is within a minute and a half, moved across here, down through this drainage in the back."

And in five minutes, he said they were surrounded.

"Everybody was on nozzles, everybody doing what they needed to do, take care of this place," said Lobre, "we eventually had to hook the engine up to the hydrant because it didn't have enough pressure." Lobre said he headed out to the road and began walking towards the barracks about a quarter mile away when the fire cut him off.

"When you have fire behavior like that, there's not a whole lot we can do," said Lobre, "suddenly, there was more fire than I'd ever seen in my life. So I ran back down the road, almost got run over by the division's truck, he's like... get in, OK.

"People were coming in, some trying to help their families and friends evacuate," said Wild, "there was one guy who wanted to go in and get his grandma, at that time, like it was too late for anyone to go in. We already had, you know, fire resources being entrapped, forced to retreat, and I had to tell them no."

"Generally, when it starts getting close, we pull out, and yeah, it was pretty close, there's a lot of fire... a lot of fire," said Lobre.

In the end, everyone made it out, and there were no fatalities. More than 59,000 acres burned, 223 structures were destroyed, and another 29 were damaged.

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UPDATE:

Highway 178 is expected to reopen on Monday at 5pm per CHP.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Highway 178 through the Kern River Canyon is closed due to downed power lines crossing the roadway, according to a spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol.

CHP added that there is no timetable currently for the road to reopen as of Saturday morning. Signage posted at the mouth of the canyon says the road will be closed 'all weekend.'

All other routes to the Kern River Valley, including Caliente-Bodfish Road, Highway 155, and Highway 178 when accessed from Highway 14 near Inyokern, are open.

According to a spokesperson for Southern California Edison, an incident occurred in the Kern River Canyon shortly after 4 p.m. on Friday, causing power lines to cross Highway 178, forcing a closure of the highway through the canyon.

10 customers are affected by the power outage, per SCE, and there is no timetable for power to be restored as of Saturday morning.

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The Little Fire that ignited Friday afternoon after a crash sent a pickup truck off Highway 178 west of Miracle Hot Springs has grown to more than 2,500 acres, prompting evacuations and road closures.

The crash occurred around 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, when the truck caught fire and spread flames into nearby brush, officials said. Highway 178 and part of Racheria Road near Highway 155 were closed over the weekend, though portions of the highway reopened after storms swept away the Old Kern Canyon Road detour.

The U.S. Forest Service said the fire remained at zero percent containment as of the weekend but credited recent storms with slowing its spread.

The rain has really helped the fire, spokesperson Amy Masi said, while cautioning that strong winds could also impact helicopter support.

Crews from Kern County Fire, Cal Fire and incident management teams from Tulare County have been dispatched to the Little Fire. The Tulare County Incident Management Team is assisting with coordination, allowing local firefighters to redirect resources to new lightning-caused blazes.

Kern County officials reported more than 1,000 lightning strikes over the weekend, some of which sparked smaller fires that diverted crews.

When we get new initial attacks, that enables us to go take those fires out real quick, contain them, and then focus back on any of the other initial attacks, Masi said.

The storms also triggered mudslides along the Borel Fire burn scar, closing Old Kern Canyon Road. Officials said the rugged terrain and unstable weather patterns are complicating containment.

The terrain is whats the difficult part, Masi said. Were very confident that we have good progress, but as more resources come in, well get more.

Authorities urged drivers to use caution on Highway 178 as firefighting and road crews remain active in the area.

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Young cowboys and cowgirls are getting an early start in rodeo skills thanks to a new program in Kernville.

The inaugural Cowkids Rodeo Camp brought together 17 children who learned about roping, riding and grooming during the three-day event.

Six-year-old Kashton Runyon was among the participants, trying his hand at mutton busting riding on the back of a sheep. When asked what he was thinking during the ride, Kashton kept it simple.

"Nothing much," Kashton said.

When asked what he enjoyed about the camp, he enthusiastically replied, "Everything."

Dottie Sue Bletcher, another young participant, had a clear favorite activity.

"Riding the horse," Dottie Sue said.

For Charlotte Cardwell, the sheep riding offered both comfort and a chance at glory.

"What I like about the sheep it was because it was soft and I wanted to ride it and get the buckle. If I ride it tomorrow then I'll get the buckle," Charlotte said.

The camp offered various activities including horseback riding and grooming, but young Jax Spraulding had his own preference.

"Uhhhhh, roping," Jax said.

When asked if he thought he was a good roper now, Jax confidently responded, "Yeah."

The children participate in various activities for about three hours each day during the camp.

Janeen Fisher, lead instructor for the camp, explained the purpose behind the program.

"Our goal is to get as many little kiddos involved in rodeo and horse as we possibly can. Sometimes it's a popular sport, but it's also a dying sport and we want to bring the community together and just get as many kiddos involved as we can. That's going to keep the industry going," Fisher said.

Jax was clearly excited about sharing his experience with friends who might attend future camps.

"I'm so excited for them to be coming and I love them," Jax said.

The Kernville Chamber of Commerce hopes to organize more events like this for neighborhood children in the future.

This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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In Havilah, locals are embracing the challenges of rebuilding, finding refuge in mobile homes, RVs, and even tents as they reclaim their homes. While many have chosen to leave, one man has taken an extraordinary path. Over the past year, he has transformed his property into what he proudly calls Camp Carruthers.

That was the front yard, the house basically sat from this trailer right here going back to about the back of the floors of this other deal that were building now, said Carruthers.

We first met Mark Carruthers last year as he was caring for his bull, Curly, who was soon labeled as the towns mascot after being burned but surviving the Borel Fire.

And a year later, camp grounds still overtake the place where his home used to stand.

This is what we call Camp Carruthers, said Carruthers.

Equipped with a close line, a space for their animals, and outhouses, Carruthers, his wife, their four kids, mother law and brother have been camping here for weeks as they continue to put the pieces of their home back together.

When the fire broke out, Carruthers tells me he along with his neighbors never imagined it would spread into the area, the family, only packing enough for 3-4 days.

That was life changing you know. We bought this place in 2006, and so we had been here for 18 years, raised our kids and everything else and it was gone, said Carruthers.

Returning to the site after lifted evacuation orders, Carruthers says although Curly passed soon after the fire, surviving structures included their chicken coop, their pool, and charred brick walls of a place that used to be home.

A place that Carruthers tells me he was determined to bring back to life, but says time hasnt been on their side at all this past year.

Fire was July 26 to give you an example, clean up happened on this particular property in December, said Carruthers.

With roughly five passed months and still no updates, the family had been staying at a friends home in Lake Isabella as they waited.

And waited

Until they were allowed back in.

Grateful to be back on their property, the goal was to immediately start gathering supplies to build their home.

However, Carruthers tells me the camp exists because the state hasnt released rebuilding permits. So far, theyve only been able to restore the well and some electricity.

And with the months going by and still living out of trailers and tents, Carruthers has added a new step into his plans.

What were building right here is a temporary 16 by 30 to trailer that we can stay in while we build our house, said Carruthers.

Speaking with his neighbors, Carruthers tells me he isnt the only one playing the waiting game. Others also making the decision to live in trailers and build temporary homes until they get approval for the rebuilding of their actual home. However others have also decided to move out, leaving for sale signs across the town.

Carruthers says although its unfortunate to see families gone, he is continuing to hold out hope that by this time next year, hell be sitting out on his new front lawn.

Life is going to go on, life is going to continue, said Carruthers.

Though its been a long and difficult journey, Carruthers says hes proud what theyve been able to accomplish given their circumstances and hope that June 2026 will look more like a home and less like a camp.

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The Borel fire that raged through areas of the Kern River Valley not only displaced residents but also posed a significant threat to wildlife habitats and ecosystems. Wildlife experts say that while most animals can escape the immediate danger, the fire's aftermath presents challenges for their survival and adaptation.

"Majority of wildlife can get out of a fire. The ones that are most vulnerable are the young or elderly or sickly animals," Meg Maitland, Senior Director at CALM Zoo said.

During a fire, animals big and small are affected and often displaced. With fires being a natural occurrence, animals have learned to adapt to these situations.

"You'll have animals that are used to having food in one area that's not longer available to them, so they have to adapt. On occasions you'll see animals that have been pushed out of their habitat that come a little bit more close to humans and our ecosystem as well," Maitland said.

With several animals being driven out of their homes, the rebuilding of their habitat depends on the severity of the burn, according to experts.

"On the Borel Fire, there were some areas that burned very very hot, so those areas wouldn't be suitable for several years and then other areas it just went through kind of like a prescribed fire, it didn't burn as hot and so those areas rehabilitate pretty quickly," Gabe Garcia, District Manager for the Central California District Bureau of Land Management said.

Despite the destruction, fires can also have positive impacts on certain ecosystems.

"There are a lot of plant species that require heat and fire to actually germinate and be able to reproduce. It also aids in the clearing out of overgrowth and allows more sunlight in to help regenerate some of those areas that have been overrun and bring in new life," Maitland said.

Like humans, experts say it may be a while until wildlife can recover and rebuild their habitats in the areas most severely affected by the Borel fire.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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July 24th marked one year since the start of the Borel Fire. That fire ended up becoming the largest in Kern County history burning nearly 60,000 acres and largely destroying the town of Havilah.

In this 23ABC News Special, we revisit the fire, the destruction, and now the rebuilding, and what's next for the Kern River Valley.

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The Borel Fire, which began on July 24, exploded just 48 hours later, destroying the historic mining town of Havilah as first responders rushed to evacuate residents. County Fire Captain Cliff Peet from Station 78 in Paiute recently took us back to the fire's footprint, sharing his firsthand experience of the devastating blaze.

"These are all houses. Every one of these lots had a house. They're all gone. There were like 5 houses on that street. They're all gone, every one of them," Peet said.

The 20-year veteran of the Kern River Valley has seen numerous wildfires throughout his career, but nothing compared to the Borel Fire.

"I was looking east, and this was the fire had gone through, and I could just see homes on fire out in these hills that I, I didn't even know they were there," Peet said.

When the fire started, Peet was 60 miles away, working overtime at County Station 53 on Taft Highway and Old River Road. It wasn't until 36 hours later that he was called to action.

"I got a call 2 or 3 in the morning, something like that. My cell phone rang, and it was one of our chiefs on the way up the chain, and he said, Hey, we're going to send a strike team to the Borel Fire -- and we'd really like you to go," Peet said.

After meeting with his strike team at the Lake Isabella fire station, they drove through Bodfish toward Havilah, looking for water sources and urging people to evacuate. That afternoon, the fire's intensity made the danger clear.

"Somebody came over the radio and said, uh, the fire has crossed Caliente Bodfish Road in Havilah and is running to the east. And we looked at each other, and we were like, no. Now the fire is up there. That's not, that's not possible," Peet said.

The Borel Fire expanded dramatically from several thousand acres to more than 35,000 in just one day, racing down the mountainside into Havilah. One of the first rescue operations involved two sheriff deputies and a Forest Service member who became trapped by the fast-moving flames.

"Hey Ty, -- we need to get -- out of here," said a Sheriff's deputy.

Peet recalled the dangerous situation: "We're on School Street, and a fire had jumped across the road we're going to be dealing with. We got to that intersection, and the fire had already blown across the road. There were houses around us on fire, and I uh didn't commit to that road. The fire activity was too intense. I know that road and I know there was not a place to turn a fire engine around for a long way to g,o and I was really worried for those guys."

Fortunately, two battalion chiefs and strike leaders coming from another direction located the group and helped lead them to safety.

As Peet and his crew headed back toward Havilah, the fire surrounded them.

"There was a house on fire right in front of us with the propane tank venting. All the houses on the left side of the street that are gone now were on fire. And so we stopped back there, and I said, we'll be safe right here. We'll let the fire burn around us. We're good again. And while we were sitting there, a woman pulled up in her little car. She's like, I got to get out of here. And I was like, please do not leave, stay right here. We are going to survive right here. She said, my husband and my son stayed at the house and I said, where's the house? And she pointed at it over here somewhere. And I didn't have a response for that," Peet said.

Despite the fire's intensity, there were no fatalities in what became the largest fire in Kern County history. However, hundreds of buildings were destroyed, with only a few structures surviving.

"So, this is the uh old schoolhouse right here. So, we pulled, we pulled up here. This deck was on fire. So, we pulled a bunch of the boards off and put that out," Peet said.

While some residents criticized the fire department's response, Peet said he understands their frustration but remained focused on his mission.

"When you have a 50 ft tall flames 1 mile wide, there's, there's not enough planes or helicopters or firemen or firefighters or fire engines. You can't stop that. It's just you're just trying to manage chaos at that point," Peet said.

Peet noted that residents have been much better about clearing defensible space this year, which is typical following a wildfire. He continues to emphasize this important safety measure.

"We don't, I don't want to see this happen ever again," Peet said.

Despite the devastation, Peet encourages those who can to stay in the community.

"I moved up here in 2005, but you'd come back. I would. It's my place. It's my community. I'd, I'd, I'd, I'd rebuild my house right where it is. I love where I live," Peet said.

Captain Peet stressed that people need to think about defensible space regardless of where they live if they're at risk of vegetation fire. He advises clearing space all year round rather than waiting until the height of fire season.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT LIVE AT 6 AM

The Borel Fire, as you know, began on July 24th, but it exploded on July 26th, just 48 hours after it started. It leveled the historic mining town of Havilah as first responders scrambled to evacuate anyone they could. I caught up with county fire captain Cliff Peet from Station 78 in Paiute, and we drove back into the Borel footprint. I had a front-seat view of his memories in the eye of a firestorm.

PKG

These are all houses. Every one of these lots had a house. They're all gone. There were like 5 houses on that street. They're all gone, every one of them.

Captain Cliff Peet joined me for a trip down memory lane, more like a nightmare on this street. And he's seen a few in his 20 years in the Kern River Valley, but nothing like this.

I was looking east, and this was the fire had gone through, and I could just see homes on fire out in these hills that I, I didn't even know they were there.

When the Borel Fire started on July 24th, Captain Peet was 60 miles away, working overtime at County Station 53 on Taft Highway and Old River Road, and it wasn't until 36 hours later that he was called into action.

I got a call 2 or 3 in the morning, something like that. My cell phone rang, and it was one of our chiefs on the way up the chain, and he said, Hey, we're going to send a strike team to the Borel Fire -- and we'd like you to go.

Peet met up with his strike team at the fire station in Lake Isabella and began driving through Bodfish and up towards Havilah, looking for water sources and encouraging people to evacuate. That afternoon, the Borel fire decided to help convince people to go.

Somebody came over the radio and said, uh, the fire has crossed Caliente Bodfish Road in Havilah and is running to the east. And we looked at each other, and we were like, no. Now the fire is up there. That's not, that's not possible.

The Borel Fire erupted from several thousand acres to more than 35,000 in one day, racing down the mountainside and into Havilah. One of the first rescue operations involved two sheriff deputies and a Forest Service member getting trapped by the fast-moving flames.

Hey, Ty, we need to -- get -- out of here, said a Sheriffs deputy.

We're on School Street, and a fire had jumped across the road we're going to be dealing with. We got to that intersection, and the fire had already blown across the road. There were houses around us on fire, and I uh didn't commit to that road. The fire activity was too intense. I know that road and I know there was not a place to turn a fire engine around for a long way to g,o and I was worried for those guys.

The group was located by 2 battalion chiefs and strike leaders coming in from a different direction, which helped to lead them out of the area.

This -- is where we stopped in my fire engine.

Captain Peet and his crew headed back towards Havilah just as the fire swept in on all sides of them.

There was a house on fire right in front of us with the propane tank venting. All the houses on the left side of the street that are gone now were on fire. And so we stopped back there, and I said, We'll be safe right here. We'll let the fire burn around us. We're good again. And while we were sitting there, a woman pulled up in her little car. She's like, I got to get out of here. And I was like, please do not leave, stay right here. We are going to survive right here. She said, My husband and my son stayed at the house and I said, Where's the house? And she pointed at it over here somewhere. And I didn't have a response for that.

But they survived. There were no fatalities associated with the largest fire in Kern County's history. The structures weren't so lucky.

So, this is the uh old schoolhouse right here. So, we pulled, we pulled up here. This deck was on fire. So, we pulled a bunch of the boards off and put it out.

But it was one of only a few that survived. Hundreds of buildings burned in this fire. In the aftermath, some people were critical of the fire department's response, and while he told me he understands their frustration, he said he stayed focused on his mission.

When you have a 50 ft tall flames 1 mile wide, there's, there's not enough planes or helicopters or firemen or firefighters or fire engines. You can't stop that. It's just you're just trying to manage chaos at that point.

Pete said this year, residents were much better about clearing defensible space. It's typical, he said, following a wildfire -- but he keeps preaching it.

We don't, I don't want to see this happen ever again.

And he encourages those who can to stay.

I moved up here in 2005, but you'd come back. I would. It's my place. It's my community. I'd, I'd, I'd, I'd rebuild my house right where it is. I love where I live.

We'd like to thank Captain Cliff Peet for taking the time to take us through his memories of the Borel Fire on that day. He did want to stress that people need to think about defensible space, no matter where you live, if youre at risk of vegetation fire. Clear space all year round. Don't wait for them to come tell you to do it at the height of fire season. 

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A year after the Borel Fire tore through the Kern River Valley community of Havilah, recovery remains out of reach for some survivorsmany of whom lost homes, pets, and decades of hard work. Among them is Danny Gonzales, a longtime resident still struggling to survive amid mounting hardships.

Gonzales has lived in Havilah since 1988, working in construction and mechanical trades. For 36 years, he built a quiet life with his cats and a home surrounded by treesuntil the Borel Fire reduced it all to ash.

I had trees. Trees that lined up my driveway, Gonzales recalled. I had all kinds of trees and everything.

In the months after the fire, Gonzales had no family to fall back on and lived out of his truck for half a year.

To sit, and stay up, boy, that was so hard, he said.

Local groups like the Kern River Valley Bridge Connection and Flood Ministries offered food and access to showers, but his situation worsened after he was hospitalized with a broken leg following a car accident.

When he was discharged, he returned to a trailer without electricity or water.

Just laying in here, he said from his bed, wishing I could get out and go get something to eat and feed my cats.

His property was one of 158 cleared in Havilah through the states Phase II debris removal program, according to Kern County Assistant Director of Environmental Health Amy Rutledge. Of those, 86 have received final clearance to begin rebuilding.

The rest are in process of being worked on for various reasons, Rutledge said. Weve issued three permits through our land and water program, which means theyre at the stage to get a well or septic system to start rebuilding.

Kern County waived fees to speed up the permitting process for fire victims, but only seven total permits have been submitted so far, despite 223 structures being lost in the fire.

We had challenges such as weather and access issues due to the rural nature of the area, Rutledge added. I know that can be really difficult, especially for individuals whose whole lifeor generationshave been there.

Gonzales said he feels abandoned by the system.

I called, and they just hang up on me, he said. I worked hard for what I had, and it all burned up in one day.

After a recent interview, local health professionals were contacted to check in on Gonzales. They determined he needed further care and arranged for an ambulance to transport him to the hospital for treatment. A few days later, he was released from the hospital and returned to his property where his neighbors have since stopped by to check on him.

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One year after the devastating Borel Fire tore through Havilah, the mountain town is still rebuilding from what officials call the biggest wildfire in Kern County history.

The fire destroyed approximately 220 structures, including 150 homes, leaving many residents displaced and facing the difficult task of rebuilding their lives.

"Unfortunately, we're not strangers to wildfires in Kern County, but the Borel Fire was the biggest one in our history. Getting a first-hand look at how somebody's life got destroyed is bad, it's devastating," said Aaron Falk, President and CEO of the Kern Community Foundation.

Falk said his team went into Havilah to assess the damage while flames still raged in surrounding areas.

"And the only standing structure is a fireplace, and you just know that somebody's entire existence got wrecked by this thing," Falk said.

The Kern Community Foundation donated approximately $183,000 to support recovery efforts, distributing funds to several nonprofits, including United Way.

"Whether it was winter clothing, we also provided hygiene kits, appliances for the families that lost their house and everything, and were displaced into other communities," said Sofia Calero Mejia from United Way.

The American Red Cross also received support, establishing three shelters in Lake Isabella, Tehachapi, and Ridgecrest.

"We provided cots, blankets, warm meals, and lots of support, nursing, mental health, spiritual care, and caring volunteers," said Cindy Huge, Public Information Officer for the American Red Cross Kern Chapter.

Huge said they spent 18 days on the ground helping displaced residents find both temporary and permanent housing.

One resident helped by the Red Cross expressed relief: "I don't have to worry about anything right now, except waiting for what is going to happen with the fire. I don't have to worry about my pets, they provided everything I needed just in case I didn't bring it."

Another resident added: "I'm here with my dog, they even accept the dogs, and I'm happy, I mean I'm sad because of the fire, and I might act a little bit silly, but I'm happy."

Despite the positive impact of volunteers, Huge recalled a particularly emotional encounter when visiting Havilah. She met a man outside what was once his home who repeatedly told her team that he had lost everything.

"So I asked him, 'What do you mean by that?' and he said, 'My wife died a year ago from cancer and now I'm alone,' and I said, 'You're not alone because the American Red Cross is here, and we will help you through this.' It was hard to pull it together, but I got into the car after he left, and I cried. I thought that could be anybody," Huge said.

One year later, recovery efforts continue. Falk noted that because the LA fires that broke out in January this year were larger, those areas received more attention from the state government to streamline rebuilding efforts.

"The people will bounce back, I don't know if the community will come back, the people are pretty tough," Falk said.

Falk said the Kern Community Foundation continues to donate to organizations supporting those impacted by the Borel Fire and encourages affected families to stay strong.

"When you have an act of god like this, you may never understand why something happened, but to know the county has your back, the government has got your back locally, not every area has that, hopefully that's appreciated," Falk said.

For those wanting to support the Kern Community Foundation in their efforts to help those impacted by the Borel Fire, Falk says there is still work to be done and encourages people to reach out to the foundation.

This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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When the Borel Fire broke out, it was moving so fast that it caught people by surprise and unprepared. Should something like this happen again, there are steps people can take now rather than later.

Since the Borel Fire, there has been progress but theres still a lot of work to be done.

For example, fire officials say if more people had evacuation plans in place, many homes and personal belongings could have been saved.

Andrew Freeborn the Public Information Officer for the Kern County Fire Department says, "What we learned from the Borel Fire is that, as usual, there are individuals who feel they dont need to heed evacuation warnings or orders. Eventually, they realize the conditions are dire and their life is in jeopardy but by the time they choose to leave, its often too late."

Freeborn says its not just firefighters who need to be prepared homeowners have a role to play, too.

"When people prepare themselves and their property, it means better clearance around the home better defensible space which lowers the chance that embers will start fires nearby. It also gives firefighters a safer, larger area to defend the property." Freeborn adds.

Defensible space is a buffer zone that slows or stops the spread of wildfire.

Experts say: clear the first five feet around your home, screen your vents, and use fire-resistant materials.

Preparing now could save your home.

But protecting your property is only part of it.

The Red Cross says having a go-bag ready can keep you safe in an emergency.

It should include essentials like a first aid kit, non-perishable food, water, medications, chargers, blankets, and important documents.

Cindy Huge is the Public Information Officer for the Red Cross, and she says, "Personally, I take my cell phone and take pictures of my documents. I also record videos of my home so I remember whats inside. I make sure the washer, dryer, refrigerator, and TV are all on and working in the video so if I ever need to prove they worked, I have that footage."

And dont forget your pets.

Nick Cullen from Kern County Animal Services reminds us that pet go-bags are just as important.

They should include food, medications, toys, and your pets microchip number. "We do our best to provide medical and veterinary care for pets during emergencies. A lot of times we get calls from people who had to evacuate and left their animals behind. In those cases, our staff will go back, assist, and care for those animals while the owners are away." Cullen said.

Its not just wildfires. With recent floods across the country, emergency preparedness is more important than ever.

For the latest evacuation alerts, download the Genasys and Ready Kern apps.

Fire officials urge residents everywhere to have a plan now before conditions turn extreme.

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A powerful friendship formed in the aftermath of the Borel Fire is making a lasting impact on our neighborhood's recovery efforts. Wendy Ward and Karen Zuber have only known each other since December, but their partnership has already helped numerous families affected by the largest wildfire in Kern County history.

"We're very driven and we're very business-oriented in getting a task done. And, it was very clear quick on, like, this is what we're going to do and then we get down to business and then talking like friends later," Ward said.

"We have a lunch date due," Zuber said.

"We do. We're overdue on lunch or a drink or something like that," Ward said.

Ward serves as the Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator for the Kern Fire Safe Council while Zuber is the executive director of the KRV Bridge Connection in Lake Isabella. Together, they helped organize a special gift event for children and their families in December.

The community response was overwhelming, according to Zuber.

"The way Kern County, Bakersfield non-profits rallied around the newly forming KRV Bridge Connection was astounding. It really was. Something that I can't even imagine how quickly they responded. Everybody was there," Zuber said.

The KRV Bridge Connection has become a vital resource hub for our neighborhood, offering showers and a food pantry for those in need.

Ward, who now lives in Bakersfield but has family and childhood friends affected by the fire, sees remarkable resilience in our community.

"There is such deep-seeded strength and there is such deep-seeded pride and there's a bond to that valley. Although it is a small-number population, they're there and they're not going anywhere and they're going to fight back. Then they're going to fight to survive and move on," Ward said.

Ward's personal connection to the area drove her to action.

"I felt a desire and a need and a drive to go back and try to help them. In working with Kern County Fire Department and others, I found that there was a flood potential," Ward said.

This insight led Ward and Zuber to bring Team Rubicon, a disaster relief volunteer group, to Havilah in May. The team serviced 15 homes, and discussions are underway about their potential return.

Both women emphasize that recovery efforts are ongoing and more help is needed.

"I think the county has done the best that they can with what they have to work with. I think we can praise the efforts that were made. But there's a lot more help and it continues to be needed. How are these families ever going to rebuild their lives? These were multiple families living on one property. When you count the number of homes lost that doesn't count the people impacted. It was a lot more," Zuber said.

Those still needing support or assistance as a result of the Borel Fire can contact the Catholic Charities of Bakersfield at (661) 281-2130.

This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Transportation, local government, and gold; Roy Fluhart, the president of the Havilah Historical Society, says these factors are what initially drew in crowds to the town starting with the gold rush.

Theres a whole bunch of people in LA and San Francisco, that were looking for work and so they had this gold strike, and apparently the newspapers in those areas really played it up because they went all these bums out of town because people looking for work and they want all these guys to go somewhere else, and they did. They came down here in a hundred, thousands maybe, said Fluhart. In the process, they discovered gold down these creeks down here, down here in Clear Creek, which comes out at Hobo Hot Springs.

Havilah was also known for being the original county seat when Kern County was first established.

The small town was consumed by the Borel Fire, leaving the Historic Havilah bare.

This included the Havilah Museum, which was built as a replica of the original courthouse that served as the county seat in the 1800s.

We didnt save anything. We didnt have time, said Fluhart.

While the museum and many of its collections were destroyed by the Borel Fire last year, Fluhart says volunteers have not given up, though they have faced some setbacks.

The Havilah Historical Society is accepting donations to rebuild their museum. These can be mailed to:

Havilah Historical Society

P.O. Box 53,

Bodfish, CA 93205

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UPDATE: 7/16 12:35 PM - The acres burned has been reduced to 648 per Watch Duty and remains at 0% containment.

UPDATE: 7/16 11:10 AM - The Fay Fire is now at 750 acres and is 0% contained. There are two evacuation warnings in place for KRN-768 and KRN-769.

Original Story:

The Fay Fire has prompted an evacuation warning for nearby residents in Weldon on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Kern County Fire Department.

The area under an evacuation warning is KRN-768, according to KCFD. These residents should prepare to leave the area as the situation can change quickly and roadways can become congested or blocked.

Zone-768 consists of those north Audubon Kern Preserve and Sierra Way, South of Forest Route 24s39a, Forest Route 24s12c, east of Weber Lane and West of Forest Route 24s14.

To see if your address is affected, go to the genasys Protect website.

If you have an emergency CALL 9-1-1. MONITOR your local media or check Facebook.com/ReadyKern for updates.

The Fay Fire has reached 220 acres North of Weldon, according to Watch Duty. Pulse Point has the call out to first responders at 3:16 p.m.

This is a developing story and we will continue to update as more information becomes available.

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A 15-year-old Bakersfield girl and a 46-year-old Los Angeles man have become the latest victims of the deadly Kern River.

Ester Isabel Villanueva Torres, the teenage victim, drowned on July 8 after entering the water near River View Park in Bakersfield.

Search teams recovered her body around 5 p.m. the same day.

Meanwhile, 46-year-old Carlos Gonzales Jr. was found unresponsive in the river on July 12.

The Kern County Coroner has confirmed both deaths as drownings.

These deaths add to the toll of more than 340 lives claimed by the Kern River over the years, highlighting ongoing safety concerns in our community.

The Bakersfield Police Department is handling the investigations into the circumstances surrounding both incidents.

This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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The body of a missing swimmer was recovered from Lake Isabella last week, according to the Kern County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies recovered the body on Wednesday, July 9, four days after a man was reported missing.

Kern Valley deputies were initially dispatched to the Stine Cove area of Lake Isabella on July 5 around 2:15 p.m. for a possible drowning.

Search efforts continued daily until the recovery was made.

The sheriff's office has not released additional information about the incident or the identity of the swimmer.

We'll continue to follow this story and provide updates as more details become available from local authorities.

This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

Kern Valley Hospital officials say they are not concerned about potential effects from healthcare funding changes, despite being identified in a letter from Democratic lawmakers to President Donald Trump as a facility that could be impacted.

The hospital is the only medical facility serving the Kern River Valley, located approximately 40 miles from Bakersfield.

"It will affect us slightly, but I think some of the issues that people are bringing up are exaggerated and kind of scare tactics," said John Lovrich, Chief Financial Officer with the Kern Valley Healthcare District.

In the letter to President Trump, Democratic lawmakers listed two Kern County hospitals that could be impacted by funding changes made by the Big Beautiful Bill: Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley and Kern Valley Medical District.

Lovrich acknowledges the bill disproportionately cuts back on funding, but doesn't anticipate the hospital shutting down.

"Even if the cuts do come, we have a surplus right now that will enable us to withstand these cuts, and we are actually putting in some plans to tighten our belts a little bit if the cuts do happen," Lovrich said.

Despite the hospital's confidence, some community members remain worried. Kevin Porizek, whose mother frequently uses the hospital, fears the cuts could lead to closure of the only hospital in town.

"It might be life-detrimenting if somewhere on the way down she happens not to make it because of the distance," Porizek said.

While uncertainty remains about the full impact of the potential funding changes, Lovrich assures the community that the hospital will continue operating and remain dedicated to serving patients with quality service.

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A new community hub is coming to Lake Isabella that will not only serve as a gathering place but also as a critical resource during wildfires and other disasters in the Kern River Valley.

The currently empty land will be transformed over the next couple of years into a comprehensive facility designed to meet local needs, with community input driving the development process.

"What we have right now is really a blank canvas and we're looking for the community to come together with us and build this with us and build a community center that they're looking for," Justin said.

The non-profit Sierra Shared Spaces has been actively seeking community feedback during recent planning sessions to ensure the hub reflects local priorities.

When completed, the facility will include spaces for events, meeting rooms, training rooms, and classrooms. It will also function as a disaster resilience center that can be activated during emergencies like wildfires or power shutoffs.

"One of the goals of the community hub is to build something that's new, something that's innovative. When you drive by you look at it and you say I know that there's things happening there. I know that there's careers being started. I know that there are businesses being started and growing. And my God, if we could do this, what else can we do?" Justin said.

In a meaningful coincidence, the property for the hub is located next door to the Bob Powers Preserve, named after Justin's grandfather, who was a historian of the Kern River Valley. Justin represents the seventh generation of his family living in the area.

"It's meaningful for me that it's kind of come full circle that the impact that my grandfather had it's able to tie into the project we're having now. That's something that's pretty unique and pretty special," Justin said.

Ashley Proctor, who has extensive experience with community hubs across the United States and Canada, has been instrumental in the development process.

"I know that the hub is going to have the kind of impact that ripples throughout the community and to neighboring regions but also the kind of impact that is generational and that's something that I'm really excited to see here," Proctor said.

The community is invited to a celebration for the hub at the property on Friday at 4pm. The facility will be located just off Kernville Road near Highway 178 in Lake Isabella.

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The Rite Aid in Lake Isabella is officially slated to close according to signage on the door, the sign saying the pharmacy inside the location will close on July 8, the store in its entirety will close on July 27.

23ABC attempted to interview two employees on site, but they said they were not at liberty to talk on camera.

The closure of this location comes as the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is one of the many in Kern County who have an official closure date, leaving just one pharmacy in the Kern River Valley, Mesa Clinical Pharmacy in Mountain Mesa.

On Monday we spoke to two Kern River Valley residents walking out of the drug store to get their thoughts on the situation. Heather Atkisson, said she attempted to fill a prescription on Monday, but was unable to, now she says shes between a rock and a hard place, having to drive to Bakersfield or Ridgecrest to get her medicine.

I'll be going one or the other, I guess, but that's a lot. Even coming from Wofford heights, which is just eight miles up the road, is difficult enough, but to go that far, it's gonna be a problem, said Atkisson.

I'm assuming you know you were able to fill the prescription today? asked 23ABC.

I was not able to today and I'm diabetic, and they are out of my medication, and I do not know what I'm going to do now, so.

Paul Becker, whos lived in the area for nearly a decade says its obviously frustrating for people in the area, but hes hopeful a new pharmacy will open the location soon after the rite aids closure.

The hope is that we can get this restored, this Rite Aid, and this drugstore is like a hub, you know? People come in, they get their prescriptions, they get some things they need, and they're on their way back home in no time," said Becker. "You know the the elderly community out here needs a place like that that you can just walk into rather than order online and wait for it to be delivered.

We did reach out to the Rite Aid Media representative late last week and again on Monday, we did not hear back by news time.

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As public safety power shutoffs continue in South Lake and the Kern River Valley during extreme heat, Cal Water is working around the clock to ensure residents maintain access to water service.

Local business owner Steve Spradlin estimates he's lost between $20,000 and $30,000 due to recent power shutoffs from spoiled perishables and generator costs across his multiple businesses in the area, which include a supermarket, gas station and True Value in Mountain Mesa.

"Other than a little low water pressure, there's never been a time that we've actually been out of water. There hasn't been any impact water wise on us at all," Spradlin said.

Spradlin hopes Southern California Edison's power shutoffs are coming to an end as he can't afford additional losses.

"The issue isn't the fact that they turned the power off. The issue is why weren't they more prepared earlier? They've had trucks in this area for three or four years. Ever since the Paradise Fire, they've inspected fire lines and replaced them," Spradlin said.

According to Spradlin, the power shutoffs created chaos in the community because they occurred with little warning.

Cal Water, which serves over 5,500 customers in the area, has also been relying on generators to maintain operations during the outages.

Kellen Boyce, a third-generation water treatment manager, says his team remains committed to serving the community despite the challenges.

"We're managing. We try to get the rest when we can. But when the phone rings it's what we signed up for. Those that are in the water industry, we know what we're getting into. We're servants of the community," Boyce said.

As a resident of the Kern River Valley himself, Boyce finds motivation in helping his neighbors through difficult times.

"It is stressful, but there's a reward behind it when you can walk up and you can see people in the community enjoying this product that we provide. Or to know that a fire department member will come up to you and say thank you. They're doing the hard work. They're doing the heavy lifting. I'll never compare what I do to what those gentlemen and ladies do. They're in the middle of it. They're doing the hard lifting. But I want to know that at least I can provide the resource they need the best I can," Boyce said.

Boyce encourages residents to greet and support Cal Water workers when they see them working throughout the area.

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The Kern River Valley community continues to struggle because of public safety power shutoffs. In response, Kern County opens a cooling center in Lake Isabella.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

The Kern River Valley is getting some aid and relief from the county in response to the power shutoffs. I'm Steve Virgen, your neighborhood reporter. A cooling center in Lake Isabella has opened and there are other resources available.

Virgen: How long have you lived in the Kern River Valley?

Karen: Ive been up here 42 years.

Virgen: As far as power shutoffs go have you ever seen anything like this?

Karen: No. This is the worst. Weve seen it intermittently. Nothing, nothing like this. And its usually shut off for 12 hours at a time.

Karen Zuber tells me it seems like everyone in the KRV is talking about the power shutoffs. The KRV community made several calls to Kern County because of all the Public Safety Power Shutoffs, a KRV resident tells me. 23 ABC reported on the power shutoffs on Tuesday. The county responded Wednesday by opening a cooling center at the senior center in Lake Isabella.

Weve been struggling with power outages since last Wednesday and there are people all over this valley, elderly people who have no family and no other resources, said Kathleen Brown, a KRV resident.

Southern California Edison has resources available, including a community resource vehicle located at the Mountain Mesa Hospital parking lot on Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The cooling center in Lake Isabella will be open 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. through at least Friday.

"I'm not exactly sure what's going on, but the community is certainly making a fuss. And we sure would love to get some good answers because there's a lot of different rumors going around as to why. Whether it's for public safety. Whether it's for repairs. We even had one notification that said we're not sure why your power is shut off. So, there's a lot of misconception. A lot of rumors. But it's very inconvenient and I'd say for some families it's really hard. This heat is not good for seniors," Zuber said.

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Stephen Pearman shares his tattoo story in order to raise money toward the fight against childhood cancer.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

Stephen Pearman was recovering from shoulder surgery, scrolling through social media, when he came across Tell Your Story in Ink a competition hosted by Inked Originals where ink collectors share the story behind their tattoos.

With the communitys votes, one winner will receive a tattoo session from Bang Bang, a famous tattoo artist, be featured in Inked Magazine, and take home $25,000.

Ive been collecting since I was like 15 years old. And I have a lot of garbage, a lot of just bad tattoos, ugly tattoos, things unfinished and I had a change of life, I got things together. I got a good job, and with a good job, I had a little bit of money to be able to afford to start covering up a lot of this garbage, said Pearman.

About four years ago, Pearman says he found the right artist when he met Amber Joy-Page with Amber Joy's Ink Therapy in Ridgecrest, who turned his past ink into art.

Ive watched him go through surgeries, different jobs, ups and downs with his sobriety, and all that stuff. So hes come a long way with all this tattoo work, said Joy-Page.

Pearman describes his new tattoos: I have one arm of Christianity and one arm is fully demonic. I have maggots and chained angels and the devil, Chupacabras, skulls, demons holding demons because theres good and theres evil in everybody. So its just my duality.

Entering the competition, Pearman says its not actually about sharing his story, but about raising money towards the B Positive Foundation, a non-profit that supports families of children with cancer a purpose that hits close to home.

I have a family member that has been in remission for quite a while now, said Pearman. But he has severe down syndrome and had leukemia and with the grom in his chest and everything, spent months upon months at Cedar Sinai and Ronald McDonald House, so on and so forth. He was given his wish. But then he kicked into remission and hes been in remission since. Hes 26 years old.

Not only will the paid votes go towards the B Positive Foundation, but Pearman says if he wins the $25,000, hell donate a large chunk of that to the cancer foundation.

Pearman said, It seems like my one chance to be able to help and I hope I can rally enough support for that help.

Voting for semi finalists closes on June 26, 2025 at 7 p.m.

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23ABC spoke with several frustrated members of the Kern River Valley community about the Southern California Edison power shutoffs. Residents say they're frustrated and want more communication.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

My day started in Kernville, speaking with Roberta Piazza, a former member of the 23ABC team, who now owns the Piazza Pinecone Motel. Who said shes obviously frustrated by the situation and just wants to see more communication from the utility.

"I think people would go along with a lot if a case were made for what the real need of this is, if they understood why the power here is being shut off when the risk may be somewhere further upstream."

From there, I set off to speak with several members of the KRV Community notably in Mountain Mesa, who have bore the brunt of the PSPSs. Christie May Elliot works at both the Red Rooster Cafe and El Portal, a Mexican restaurant, who said if this continues, it could have a lasting impact on the Kern River Valley as a whole.

"There's a lot of people that can't afford your generators to keep their houses going, businesses are going to suffer severely. I mean, like I said, just the few businesses we have here and the three block radius, it's going to kill people."

Gabriela Ornelas, a spokesperson for the utility, says they use the shut offs as a tool to limit the chance of wildfire danger.

Our priority is keeping our customers safe, keeping our community safe, public safety. Power shutoffs are a tool that help us keep our community safe during dangerous fire weather conditions. So we may do public safety power shutoffs when we do see conditions that risk the safety of our communities.

But residents like James Andie and Mark Gordon, who is the Chief Nursing Officer for the Kern Valley Hospital, this June doesn't feel any different weather wise than years past.

We've seen winds like this for the last 50 years that I've lived in this community, and we just, we don't understand why, all of a sudden this year, those thresholds are different, said Gordon.

I can appreciate the protection. We've had some wildfires that have just reached from Lake Isabella all the way over here in an hour, one time, I mean, but the wind was blowing 80 miles an hour, and it just created havoc everywhere," said Andie. "Those things that they implement are good, but somewhere along the line, whatever they're using, or however that's been brought to their technology, something's amiss."

And while I was sitting down for lunch, a member of the community showed me a text notification from Southern California Edison notifying residents that their power could be shut off for safety reasons in the next four hours. However, according to Piazza, the power in Kernville went out, without notice.

"We did not get a notification that our power was going to go out. It went out as a surprise. And then, you know, maybe 15 minutes after the outage, there was an email saying that it was going to happen, but in this case there was literally no way to prepare and nothing that we could do it feels much more personal this time around, because there was no notice because there was no opportunity to prepare."

As for right now, the PSPS notice that was sent out to customers in the KRV says conditions are expected to remain this way until Saturday morning.

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Dignitaries and community members celebrate the return of Riverside Park in Kernville. The park had been dormant after a flood in March of 2023.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

The Kern River flows near a walking path. There's a basketball and pickleball court along with playground equipment. It's the new Riverside Park. I'm Steve Virgen, your neighborhood reporter. The community gathered to celebrate the reopening.

There was plenty to celebrate during the return of Riverside Park in Kernville. There are courts for pickleball on a newly painted surface. Children can be seen having fun in the playground and finding mischief in other parts of the park.

Its great to see the life of the park being brought back. For over a year it was very dormant, kind of ghost vibes going on. Ive seen tourists come into town and see that the park was closed and they turn and leave. Having the park reopen you can see people back to playing pickleball. The kids are in the playground. People are enjoying the river again. Theyre fishing. Theyre kayaking. Theyre doing everything that this park was built to be for, said Gary Ananian, president of the Kernville Chamber of Commerce.

A flood in March of 2023 damaged much of the park and kept people away. But the park with a walkway along the Kern River has returned. Dignitaries and community members celebrated the comeback.

Weve had two courts at the Methodist Church in Kernville that has generously let us play there for years and years. And this is a blessing for us because the pickleball community is growing. And weve outgrown the two courts there. So for them to paint this court for us its been a blessing, said Harvey Feinstein, a Kernville resident.

Kern County used $2.2 million from the General Fund for the parks improvements. Theres more work to be done.

So the second phase of the project is going to be to harden the riverbank that is just on the edge of the park to secure and preserve our investment here at the park, said Michelle Burns-Lusich, Kern County Chief General Services Officer.

The park also has new picnic tables and barbecue spots. I'm Steve Virgen, your neighborhood reporter.

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