UPDATE–LEBEC, CA (Friday, Aug. 19, 2016 at 1:40 p.m.)—According to Kern County Fire Department Public Information Officer Anthony Romero, fire crews are in the mop-up stage on the Lebec fire in Digier Canyon.

UPDATE–LEBEC, CA (Friday, Aug. 19, 2016 at 12:45 p.m.)—An air tanker has made several retardant drops on the Lebec fire in Digier Canyon, which started near the water hole at the bottom of the hill along Interstate 5. Evacuations had been started for residents in the canyon, but have been halted as crews gain the upper hand on the fire. Asked if things were looking good for control of the fire, Los Padres National Forest Wildland Firefighting Division Chief John Abell said, “It’ll look good when there’s no smoke on it.”

UPDATE–LEBEC, CA (Friday, Aug. 19, 2016 at 12:03 p.m.)—The Kern County Fire Department has started evacuating residents in parts of Digier Canyon. A reporter is on scene. We will post updates on this site as new information is available.

LEBEC, CA (Friday, Aug. 19, 2016 at 11:54 a.m.)—A brush fire has been reported as moving toward Digier Canyon from Interstate 5. A Mountain Enterprise reporter is en route.

This is part of the August 19, 2016 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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