Sunday, June 15, 2014
As in this file photo of a fire in California, the Sierra Nevada Shirley Fire flames are growing (David McNew/Getty Images)
More than 500 homes were evacuated late Saturday as the result of the Shirley Fire in the Sierra Nevada in California, northeast of Bakersfield.
The Kern County Sheriff's Office said a shelter for the affected residents from the Kern Valley area was opened in Lake Isabella.
#RedCross volunteers are responding to #ShirleyFire with a shelter at the Lake Isabella Senior Center.
- RC Central Valley (@redcrosscv) June 15, 2014
The wildfire has grown to 810 acres and is 5 percent contained, officials said. It is currently the most active in the Rattlesnake Creek area, about 1 mile southwest of Wofford Heights, California, according to the InciWeb website.
Humidity is going to stay low in the area on Sunday, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Michael Doll said.
"During the daytime, the relative humidity is generally going to be 10 to 20 percent," Doll said.
It will be very warm across the area with highs in the upper 80s with a southwest wind between 7 and 14 mph, Doll said. It will drop into the low 80s on Monday, but a south-southwest wind will prevail between 8 to 16 mph.
Through Wednesday, winds may gust up to 30 mph, complicating firefighting efforts, Doll said.
DC-10 VLAT (Very Large Air Tanker) dropping 11K gallons of retardant to help fight Shirley Fire @usfs_r5 pic.twitter.com/FsCMMvsVzZ
- Sequoia Nat'l Forest (@sequoiaforest) June 14, 2014
Flames are visible from Wofford Heights and several calls have been received from concerned residents. Smoke will continue to be an issue in the area and residents who may suffer adverse health effects due to smoke were urged to check with their health care provider.
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