Fire Information: 

Kernville Ranger District: 760-376-3781, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Western Divide Ranger District: 559-539-2607, ext. 72212, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4964 

Email: cedarfire08162016@gmail.com 

Size: 19,629 acres (415 acre increase from last evening) Fire Start: August 16, 2016 

Percent Contained: 5 percent Location: West of Kernville, Calif. 

Total Personnel: 1,836 Cause: Under investigation 

Resources: 28 hand crews, 171 engines, 15 aircraft, Cost to Date: $11.4 million 

18 dozers, 25 water tenders 

Fire Summary: 

The fire burned actively through the night around most of the perimeter. Two night-flight helicopters were used to drop water near Black Mountain above Wofford Heights where fire was most active. Firefighters kept the fire from advancing downhill into Wofford Heights and held it north of Highway 155 and the Southern California Edision extra-high voltage powerline. 

On the northwest side, firefighters are working to slow the fire’s advance toward residences in Panorama Heights, California Hot Springs, Pine Flat, and nearby communities. 

Many firefighters relocated from the incident command post at Camp 9 to a camp in Glennville at the rodeo grounds (196 Pacoe Road). This location, which is closer to the fire perimeter, allows firefighters to spend more time on the fireline, travel less, and get more rest. Some crews are staying on the north side of the fire in a third camp at R Ranch in Johnsondale. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: 

The critically dry and beetle-killed vegetation is being thoroughly consumed as it burns. This generates abundant smoke that could settle into Kern River valley. When burning in timber, the fire is intense and is very resistant to control. When burning in grass and shrubs, the wind causes the fire to advance rapidly, but it creeps when winds decrease. 

An additional concern for Monday is the increased potential for thunderstorms in the area. While the chance of wetting rain is unlikely, lightning and gusty outflow winds are possible. Temperatures are forecast to reach into the 80s on higher slopes and mid-90s on lower terrain. Relative humidities are expected to drop into the teens. Breezy conditions are predicted in the afternoon. Such conditions could complicate fire-suppression efforts and cause the fire to spread rapidy. 

Closures: 

The Sequoia National Forest has issued an area, road and trail closures for the area affected by the Cedar Fire (Order No. 0513-16-18). General boundaries of the closure: south of Highway 50, west of Highway 99, north of Sawmill Road, and east of the western Forest boundary. The official closure and a map are posted at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4964.