Fast moving fire climbs up slopes of Tejon Ranch in Lebec north of El Tejon School

  • Kern County Helicopter 407 passes in front of the smoke plume, preparing to make a water drop on the fire near the communication towers. [photo by Gary Meyer, The Mountain Enterprise]

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    Kern County Helicopter 407 passes in front of the smoke plume, preparing to make a water drop on the fire near the communication towers. [photo by Gary Meyer, The Mountain Enterprise]

  • Marlena Meigs caught a glimpse of firefighters over the passing traffic as the Fort fire reached Interstate 5 on Friday, July 8. [photo by Marlena Meigs]

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    Marlena Meigs caught a glimpse of firefighters over the passing traffic as the Fort fire reached Interstate 5 on Friday, July 8. [photo by Marlena Meigs]

  • The Fort fire is only feet away from Interstate 5 as traffic goes by. [photo by Marlena Meigs]

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    The Fort fire is only feet away from Interstate 5 as traffic goes by. [photo by Marlena Meigs]

  • Flames inch their way down a slope just 100 yards above Interstate 5 on Friday, July 8. [photo by Gary Meyer, The Mountain Enterprise]

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    Flames inch their way down a slope just 100 yards above Interstate 5 on Friday, July 8. [photo by Gary Meyer, The Mountain Enterprise]

  • An Erickson sky-crane helicopter lifts off after loading up with water just south of Jack In The Box at Grapevine. [photo by Gary Meyer, The Mountain Enterprise]

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    An Erickson sky-crane helicopter lifts off after loading up with water just south of Jack In The Box at Grapevine. [photo by Gary Meyer, The Mountain Enterprise]

  • Kern County battalion chiefs direct air tanker crews for water and retardant drops. [photo by Gary Meyer, The Mountain Enterprise]

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    Kern County battalion chiefs direct air tanker crews for water and retardant drops. [photo by Gary Meyer, The Mountain Enterprise]

LEBEC, CA (Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 2:40 p.m.)—The Fort fire is now 70% contained, according to Kern County Fire Department Public Information Officer Matt Redstone. Full containment is expected by 7 p.m. today.

LEBEC, CA (Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 11:54 a.m.)—Forward progress of the Fort fire was stopped at 10 p.m. last evening. Hand crews are currently doing mop-up operations, which should be completed by 7 p.m. this evening, according to Kern County Fire Department PIO Matt Redstone. Redstone confirmed that structure protection teams prevented any damage on Friday to the communication towers on Tejon Peak. About 550 acres were burned and by 10 p.m. Friday the fire was 50% contained, Redstone said.

LEBEC, CA (Friday, July 8, 2016 at 04:25 p.m.)—Just after 4 p.m. the Fort fire had reached within feet of the Interstate 5 northbound lanes. See photos. Frazier Park resident were smelling smoke and calling the newspaper office to find out whether it was related to the Pine fire south of Lockwood Valley.

LEBEC, CA (Friday, July 8, 2016 at 02:35 p.m.)—The Fort fire has made its way down very close to Interstate 5. Incident commanders have sent firefighters to have a look.

LEBEC, CA (Friday, July 8, 2016 at 01:09 p.m.)—The fire appears to have started “in mid-slope” as one fire official on-scene said. It does not appear that the fire started from Interstate 5. There are power lines crossing Tejon Ranch property parallel with the freeway and going up the slope toward the communication towers at the top. Two Erickson sky-crane helicopters and Kern County Helicopter 407 are making water drops. One fixed wing air tanker has made retardant drops. The fire has burned close to the communication towers. The fire has also burned down the slope toward Interstate 5 and south in the direction of El Tejon School, but is several miles away from the school. No homes are reported to be threatened at this time.

LEBEC, CA (Friday, July 8, 2016 at 12:09 p.m.)—A fast moving wildfire broke out at about 11:15 a.m. and is currently climbing up the mountainside from the east escape ramp onto Tejon Ranch. The fire is threatening the radio transmission towers on Tejon Peak.

This is part of the July 8, 2016 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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