GRAPEVINE, CA (Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 8:33 p.m.)–Northbound number four lane (slow lane) has been closed since 6:22 p.m. at the semi truck incident. Fire crews are escorting tow truck to the scene. The semi trailer began smoking after fire crews had knocked out the fire.

GRAPEVINE, CA (Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 6:09 p.m.)–An additional fire has started with a big rig truck, twenty percent involved in flames, on the northbound I-5 just south of Grapevine exit. A small grass fire that started at the scene has been knocked down by Engine 56. A medevac helicopter and ground ambulance initially requested has been canceled.

GRAPEVINE, CA (Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 5:24 p.m.)–According to Kern County Fire Department Public Information Officer Sean Collins, one of the fires is about 1/2 acre and is near the 99 and Interstate 5 split. The other two or three fires are all on the Grapevine south of the Grapevine exit. Radio traffic among fire crews confirms that these latter fires are within a one mile stretch of southbound freeway.

GRAPEVINE, CA (Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 5:04 p.m.)–One of the fires south of Grapevine has been knocked down, according to fire crew radio traffic.

GRAPEVINE, CA (Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 4:52 p.m.)–Several fires have erupted near the base of the Grapevine, about six miles north of Lebec, reported at 4:18 p.m. this afternoon. Kern County incident command has named this the Grapevine Complex. The fires are small at this time and within a one mile stretch of Interstate 5 on the southbound side, south of the Grapevine exit. Kern County engines 55, 54 and 57 have responded, as well as helicopter 408.

This is part of the April 29, 2011 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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