Fast-moving central California wildfire kills 2
LAKE ISABELLA, Calif. -- A deadly wildfire that roared through dry brush and trees in the mountains of central California gave residents little time to flee as flames burned dozens of homes to the ground, propane tanks exploded, and smoke obscured the path to safety.
At least 80 houses were destroyed in the southern Sierra Nevada as the fire burned out of control across nearly 47 square miles, leveling neighborhoods and forcing thousands of people to flee from fast-moving flames.
Kern County Fire Capt. Tyler Townsend told CBS affiliate KBAK two people were found dead Friday between the communities of Lake Isabella and South Lake.
Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said the victims were an elderly couple. They appeared to be trying to flee from the flames and were overcome by smoke outside of their house, according to Youngblood.
The names of the two dead were not released. The sheriff said his department hasn't been able to search very extensively and would be looking through burned homes with cadaver dogs seeking more possible victims.
Three firefighters were also been taken to a hospital after suffering smoke inhalation, according to the fire department.
"I've never been in a wildland fire where I've seen so many homes burn," Townsend said. "It's one of the most devastating I've ever seen."
Retired police officer David Klippel, 78, said he didn't see much of a threat after receiving an automated call advising him to leave. That changed dramatically within an hour Thursday afternoon.
"I've never been so close to a fast-moving, ferocious fire. It was unbelievable," said Klippel, who later learned his house had caught fire. "I almost didn't have time to get out."
Entire neighborhoods of mobile homes were charred to their foundations. Heavy smoke hung over Lake Isabella, a popular recreation area east of Bakersfield, as winds pushed the flames farther into drought-starved terrain.
"The forces of nature collided with a spark," Kern County Fire Chief Brian Marshall said. "The mountainous terrain, five years of drought and wind gusts of over 20 mph all drove a fire over 11 miles in 13 hours."
Scorching heat and tinder-dry conditions across the West have ignited massive wildfires in the past week that have destroyed properties and driven residents from their homes in several states.
The California blaze quickly became one of the most devastating, forcing several thousand people to evacuate and putting some 1,500 homes in jeopardy. The so-called Erskine Fire was California's largest wildfire so far this year, according to the National Weather Service.
Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Kern County Friday afternoon, KBAK reported.
"Anne and I extend our heartfelt sympathies to everyone impacted by this destructive blaze," Brown said in a news release. "We join all Californians in expressing our gratitude to the courageous firefighters, emergency personnel and volunteers working tirelessly throughout Kern County to help residents and extinguish this fire."
The proclamation frees up money and resources for the firefight and the aftermath of the blaze. It also temporarily suspends some state regulations and waives fees as a way to ease the return of evacuees and those who have lost homes.
Crews faced a blaze "of epic proportions" as they tried to protect neighborhoods, Marshall said. Officials said they expect to find many more homes destroyed as the smoke clears and they do a more thorough check of smoldering neighborhoods.
Video from Thursday night showed homes fully engulfed and others already gone as propane tanks flared up and exploded. Flames could be seen in the steep, rocky hillsides early the next morning.
When daylight broke, whole neighborhoods were reduced to rubble. Scorched cars sat on tireless rims and leafless trees poked from barren, blackened dirt.
Residents described a frantic flight from communities around the lake, a major destination for boating, fishing, rafting, hiking and camping.
Cachet Kirby, 22, of Mount Mesa, said she and neighbors grabbed clothes, blankets and their dogs, fleeing through thick smoke as flames charged down the mountains.
"It was to the point you couldn't see, you couldn't breathe," she said.
She and others, exhausted Friday morning after little sleep in shelters and cars, were desperate for information about their homes.
"We could have gotten lucky and the wind shifted, or our house could be burned down," Kirby said.
Cellphone service was cut off in many areas, contributing to the anxieties.
Very low humidity and gusty winds of up to 55 mph could worsen a blaze that broke out amid high temperatures and climbed over at least three ridges into hillside neighborhoods, authorities said.