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Taft, Calif. —
More lightning moved through the Westside Saturday evening, bringing a spectacular lightning show and – unlike the morning storms – significant rainfall.
There was so much rain, in fact, that flooding was reported in the area and may even have caused a traffic accident north of Taft.
Nearly half an inch fell in Taft. The California Highway Patrol reported up to six inches of water running across Highway 33 north of Taft, and the CHP's website said flooding may have caused a non-injury accident on the highway at Henry Road when a vehicle lost control and struck a fence.
The area was under a severe thunderstorm warning for a time Saturday night when a strong cell passed through the area with heavy rain and frequent lightning.
Sunday started off with clear skies, but the National Weather Service says there is still a chance for storms later in the day.
In the meantime, numerous fires touched off by lightning strikes in Kern County Saturday continue to burn.
Major fires burning on Breckenridge Mountain east of Bakersfield, the Keene-Tehachapi area, Walker Basin, the Comanche Point area south of Arvin and several fires in the higher terrain south of Highway 166 and east of Maricopa.
More than 15,000 total acres have been burned in the county since lightning started touching off fires before dawn Saturday.
Here is a quick rundown of some of the major fires with information from the Kern County Fire Department and Calfire:
Comanche Complex
•Comanche Fire This fire is located in the lower Tejon Canyon. Fire has consumed approximately 5,000 acres, is 10% contained and is still threatening Stallion Springs.
•Knob Fire This fire is located south of Highway 166 between Interstate 5 and Maricopa. Fire has consumed approximately 4,000 acres and is 50% contained.
•Wolf Fire This fire is located near Highway 166 and Old River Road. Fire has consumed approximately 500 acres and is 50% contained.
The Knob and Wolf fires are both on the south side of Highway 166 west of I-5.
•Harris Branch Approximately 25 acres
Keene Complex
•Black Branch Between Harts Flat Road and Black Mountain Road Approximately 3,000 acres. Extreme fire activity. Roads closed in area to all but residents with ID include Caliente Creek at Bodfish, Walker Basin at Bodfish, Keene at Woodford Tehachapi Rd., Woodford Tehachapi Rd and Tehachapi Loop. Numerous structures threatened. Threatening Golden Hills area
•Indian Branch n the area of Piute road and Indian Creek Road Approximately 2,000 acres. Very inaccessible terrain
•Baker Fire West side of Walker Basin. Approximately 1,200 acres.
• Milano Fire on Breckenridge Mountain. Approximately 6,500 acres no containment. This fire forced the closure of Highway 178 through the Kern River Canyon overnight.
In addition the United States Forest Service has numerous lightning fires in the Mt. Pinos and Cuyama areas. Two of them, in the higher elevations on the north face of the mountains south of Highway 166, have been visible over a wide area.
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More lightning moved through the Westside Saturday evening, bringing a spectacular lightning show and – unlike the morning storms – significant rainfall.
There was so much rain, in fact, that flooding was reported in the area and may even have caused a traffic accident north of Taft.
Nearly half an inch fell in Taft. The California Highway Patrol reported up to six inches of water running across Highway 33 north of Taft, and the CHP's website said flooding may have caused a non-injury accident on the highway at Henry Road when a vehicle lost control and struck a fence.
The area was under a severe thunderstorm warning for a time Saturday night when a strong cell passed through the area with heavy rain and frequent lightning.
Sunday started off with clear skies, but the National Weather Service says there is still a chance for storms later in the day.
In the meantime, numerous fires touched off by lightning strikes in Kern County Saturday continue to burn.
Major fires burning on Breckenridge Mountain east of Bakersfield, the Keene-Tehachapi area, Walker Basin, the Comanche Point area south of Arvin and several fires in the higher terrain south of Highway 166 and east of Maricopa.
More than 15,000 total acres have been burned in the county since lightning started touching off fires before dawn Saturday.
Here is a quick rundown of some of the major fires with information from the Kern County Fire Department and Calfire:
Comanche Complex
•Comanche Fire This fire is located in the lower Tejon Canyon. Fire has consumed approximately 5,000 acres, is 10% contained and is still threatening Stallion Springs.
•Knob Fire This fire is located south of Highway 166 between Interstate 5 and Maricopa. Fire has consumed approximately 4,000 acres and is 50% contained.
•Wolf Fire This fire is located near Highway 166 and Old River Road. Fire has consumed approximately 500 acres and is 50% contained.
The Knob and Wolf fires are both on the south side of Highway 166 west of I-5.
•Harris Branch Approximately 25 acres
Keene Complex
•Black Branch Between Harts Flat Road and Black Mountain Road Approximately 3,000 acres. Extreme fire activity. Roads closed in area to all but residents with ID include Caliente Creek at Bodfish, Walker Basin at Bodfish, Keene at Woodford Tehachapi Rd., Woodford Tehachapi Rd and Tehachapi Loop. Numerous structures threatened. Threatening Golden Hills area
•Indian Branch n the area of Piute road and Indian Creek Road Approximately 2,000 acres. Very inaccessible terrain
•Baker Fire West side of Walker Basin. Approximately 1,200 acres.
• Milano Fire on Breckenridge Mountain. Approximately 6,500 acres no containment. This fire forced the closure of Highway 178 through the Kern River Canyon overnight.
In addition the United States Forest Service has numerous lightning fires in the Mt. Pinos and Cuyama areas. Two of them, in the higher elevations on the north face of the mountains south of Highway 166, have been visible over a wide area.
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