FRAZIER PARK, California — Despite a heavy aerial effort, a fire quickly blackened 3,000 acres Wednesday, taking the blaze into the Los Padres National Forest where dry, thick trees were expected to compound the firefight.
The fire near Interstate 5 through Frazier Park, where Kern and northern Los Angeles counties meet, led firefighters to evacuate a high school as a precaution, in case the winds shifted, and the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area, said Kern County Fire spokesman Corey Wilford.
Five air tankers and four helicopters made steady drops on the fire. The fire was 10 percent contained Wednesday night.
The fire of unknown cause started just before 1:30 p.m. and initially burned thick brush, seasonal grasses and sage, Wilford said, but then moved into the meatier trees.
Winds were blowing at a sustained 10 mph with gusts of 20 mph, he said.
Firefighters from Kern, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service were battling the blaze.
One road through the area was closed but Interstate 5 remained open.
The fire was threatening several power transmission lines running through the area.
No other structures were threatened and there were no injuries, Wilford said.
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