A transition center is now open to support the repopulation effort. Normal hours of operation will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.. The location of the center is Wallace Middle School at 3240 Erskine Creek Rd. in Lake Isabella. The preliminary function of this transition center is to provide information to displaced citizens about where resources are available and what resources are there. The local call center at our EOC is operational from 8AM-8PM each day. The number to call is 661-873-2660.
Public Works: In coordination with Kern Regional Transit, a shuttle program has been established to take occupants from both evacuation shelters to the Transition Center and to Kern Valley High School at 3340 Erskine Creek Rd. in Lake Isabella. In coordination with Kern County Fire Department and the Kern High School District, the Sikh Friends of Bakersfield are offering free meals to Erskine fire victims, responders, and volunteers at Kern Valley High School from 11 AM to 5 PM daily.
Four temporary collection sites have been set up to assist residents from the affected areas with disposal of food waste resulting by the prolonged power outage. This service is scheduled to end Friday, July 1, 2016. Lined roll-off containers will be available to residents from 8AM to 8PM at the following locations: Mtn. Mesa Park, Weldon Southern Baptist Church 20647 Hwy 178, South Lake Car Wash off the Frontage Rd. and Hwy 178, Onyx Store 23822 Hwy 178 and Easy Street. Items accepted at these temporary collection sites include ONLY food waste and other household trash that is placed in bags. Further efforts to address other fire debris will be set up as part of the recovery process.
The Kern County Public Works Department has scheduled a special One Day Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event on Saturday, July 23, 2016 to target and collect the household hazardous waste from affected properties. Residents living in the areas affected by the Erskine Fire, with household hazardous waste items in need of disposal, can stop by Mt. Mesa Park located at 4361 McCray Road from 9AM to 3PM, Saturday, July 23, 2016. For more information or updates visit the website at www.kerncountywaste.com.
Public Health: Kern County Public Health and the State of California will be offering a debris cleanup assistance program for all those residences affected by the Erskine Fire. The purpose of this program is to assist in getting your property clean, safe, and ready for rebuild. As soon as more information is available, residents will be able to sign up for the program.
Utilities: We expect outage numbers will vary throughout the day. As of 1PM today we have approximately 2800 customers remaining without power. SCE is coordinating with county officials on their distribution of ice and water to residents in the area. SCE will also continue outreach efforts to critical care customers in the area. SCE will be at Wallace Middle School Transition Center to address customer related issues from 9AM to 6PM today.
As of today, 138 of more than 200 distribution poles, and 24 of 30 transmission poles have been replaced. Delivery of a generator to Mountain Mesa Hospital arrived at 11AM and is being hooked up. SCE wants to remind customers that electric service interruptions are possible over the next several daysdue to ongoing infrastructure repair and replacement activities.
Amerigas Propane wants to encourage customers returning to their homes to call their energy provider prior to turning their system back on, if their system was turned off, or if they have had any interruption of service. Amerigas officials state that, “The National Fire Protection Association requires a leak check to be performed whenever propane supply is turned off prior to re-installing service.” Amerigas Propane will waive the leak check fee for all Amerigas Propane customers in areas affected by the fire.
Donations: For the most up to date information on where to receive or donate goods, please contact our call center at 661-873-2660. For a list of donation sites where items are available for distribution please visit our website at www.kerncountyfire.org.
Monetary donations are being encouraged for the local chapter of the Red Cross and for the United Way of Kern County. Animal related donations should be directed to Lake Isabella County Animal Shelter at 14891 Hwy 178 Monday-Friday from 8AM-5PM.
Do not send donations to the emergency shelters.
Non-monetary donations (non-food) in Bakersfield should be directed to Good Will locations throughout the county between 8AM-5PM. The Elks Lodge at 7608 Wofford Blvd in Wofford Heights in conjunction with the Salvation Army is also accepting non-monetary donations.
The following list of non-food donations are needed. Diapers and wipes, non-perishable food, paper towels, plastic cutlery, can openers, blankets, towels, wash cloths, sleeping bags, and NEW underwear. In general, due to the generosity of the community, donations of used goods and used clothes are no longer necessary at this time.
Non-perishable food donations should be directed to the Lake Isabella Food Pantry at 4621 Lake Isabella Blvd attention Steve or Phillis. Donations here are accepted 24/7. They need food that can make a meal such as canned chili, canned ravioli, canned soup, hamburger helper, etc.
We appreciate your cooperation and patience as new information is acquired and repopulation efforts continue.
