FRAZIER PARK, CA - A wildfire burning in thick brush near the Grapevine grew to more than 3,000 acres as of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The Grand Fire was burning between the mountain communities of Lebec and Frazier Park, near Frazier Mountain High School.
Eyewitnesses said flames were visible very close to the school's athletic fields, but the Kern County Fire Department said neither the school nor the field were damaged.
Because the fire was so close to campus, firefighters ordered an evacuation of the school and the El Tejon Unified School District decided to leave the school closed Thursday.
Hungry Valley State Park and Piru Creek Campground were also evacuated.
The fire was near Interstate 5 and clearly visible from the freeway, but the California Highway Patrol said it didn't expect an impact on traffic.
As of 6:30 p.m., the fire was ten percent contained.
Dozens of firefighters from Los Angeles and Kern Counties converged on the fire shortly after it was reported around 1 p.m. near the Grand Terrace Estates on the south side of Frazier Mountain Park Road.
The Kern County Fire Department said the fire started in Kern County, initially headed southeast toward Interstate 5. Firefighters said the wind direction then shifted, pushing the fire southwest to Ventura County toward Hungry Valley State Park, an area used by ATVs.
As of 5:30 p.m., L.A. County fire crews were posted at the county line waiting to suppress the flames. Ventura County crews were using bulldozers to create a fire break at their county line.
The Kern County Fire Department said 500 personnel from four different agencies were on scene. Fire officials say crews were using five air tankers and four helicopters to suppress the fast-moving fire.
A Kern County Fire Department spokesperson says strong winds and dry brush aren't helping firefighting efforts.
The Grand Fire was burning between the mountain communities of Lebec and Frazier Park, near Frazier Mountain High School.
Eyewitnesses said flames were visible very close to the school's athletic fields, but the Kern County Fire Department said neither the school nor the field were damaged.
Because the fire was so close to campus, firefighters ordered an evacuation of the school and the El Tejon Unified School District decided to leave the school closed Thursday.
Hungry Valley State Park and Piru Creek Campground were also evacuated.
The fire was near Interstate 5 and clearly visible from the freeway, but the California Highway Patrol said it didn't expect an impact on traffic.
As of 6:30 p.m., the fire was ten percent contained.
Dozens of firefighters from Los Angeles and Kern Counties converged on the fire shortly after it was reported around 1 p.m. near the Grand Terrace Estates on the south side of Frazier Mountain Park Road.
The Kern County Fire Department said the fire started in Kern County, initially headed southeast toward Interstate 5. Firefighters said the wind direction then shifted, pushing the fire southwest to Ventura County toward Hungry Valley State Park, an area used by ATVs.
As of 5:30 p.m., L.A. County fire crews were posted at the county line waiting to suppress the flames. Ventura County crews were using bulldozers to create a fire break at their county line.
The Kern County Fire Department said 500 personnel from four different agencies were on scene. Fire officials say crews were using five air tankers and four helicopters to suppress the fast-moving fire.
A Kern County Fire Department spokesperson says strong winds and dry brush aren't helping firefighting efforts.