Borel Fire now the largest fire in Kern history: Kern County FD

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Borel Fire has been destroying everything in its path for over a week and has burned nearly 60,000 acres making it the largest fire in Kern County history, according to fire officials.

The Borel Fire has burned 59,389 acres of land in the Kern River Valley and is 47% contained as of the morning of Friday, Aug. 2.

The Borel Fire started on July 24 after a vehicle veered off the side of Highway 178 in the canyon and started a fire. The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The fire spread quickly and by the the that evening, more than 1,600 acres of land was burnt.

The second largest fire was reported in 1942 at 52,197 acres. This fire burned in the same areas as the 2016 Erskine Fire but was not given a name, according to officials with the Kern County Fire Department.

The third largest fire reported in Kern County fire was the Erskine Fire in 2016 , which burned 48,019 acres of land. KGET previously reported, the Erskine Fire burned 285 structures and killed two people.

Officials say the Erskine Fire was caused by a faulty electrical line in a tree , which caused a spark.

The fourth-largest fire was the Piute Fire in 2008, which burned 37,017 acres, according to the Kern County Fire Department.

The fifth-largest fire was the Rankin Ranch Fire in 1970, which burned 35,976 acres.

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