By Gary Meyer, TME

Another brushfire erupted in Lebec on Saturday, Aug. 28, this one at the base of a hill about 600 yards south of the southbound I-5 Lebec off-ramp.

Ridge Route Drive resident Carlos Serret said his video system showed Saturday’s fire started at about 6:15 p.m. Kern County Fire Department Engine 56 arrived by about 6:30 p.m.

Neighbors were terrified at first, Serret told The Mountain Enterprise, but fire crews quickly took control to save homes, assisted by helicopter water drops. The fire was out by midnight. No one was reported injured.

About eight fires have occurred in Lebec since July, with three evacuation alerts.

National Forests Closed

On Monday, officials ordered all of California’s national forests to close until September 17. Fire danger is unprecedented because fuels are so dry, they said. Keeping people out will keep people safe, and limit the risk of visitors starting fires, the USFS said.

Illegal Obstructions of Roads

In January, we reported that rocks and other obstructions were placed at the bottom of Ridge Route Drive, causing controversy between neighbors. In an emergency such as a fire or medical crisis, residents said in our earlier report, obstructions allegedly placed on the road by…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

Above: A brush fire that broke out along Lebec Road on Saturday at about 6:15 p.m. charges up a hill near Ridge Route Drive, a roadway used by emergency and utility crews to serve residents.

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This is part of the September 3, 2021 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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