Firefighters battle intense blaze in Ridgecrest amid triple-digit heat

RIDGECREST, California — Kern County firefighters faced extreme conditions as they battled a structure fire on the 100 block of W. Wilson Ave. on August 13, 2024.The fire, reported at 12:29 p.m., had fully engulfed a house and was spreading to nearby structures and power lines, according to a press release from the Kern County Fire Department. A second alarm response was initiated, bringing in three engine companies and a total of nine firefighters to the scene.Firefighters contended with triple-digit temperatures, dense yard accumulations, falling power lines, and a condemned structure with a collapsed roof. Gusty winds exacerbated the situation, causing trees to catch fire and embers to spread to adjacent lots. The blaze extended into a three-unit apartment building next door, damaging one unit but sparing the other two due to the firefighters' efforts.All impacted structures were searched, and no victims were found. Firefighters, exhausted from the heat and workload, were rotated through rehabilitation to check their vital signs and cool down before resuming work.Two residences, a condemned structure, and multiple sheds were destroyed by the flames. However, several homes and other structures were saved. Firefighters achieved knockdown on the fire and remained on scene to extinguish hot spots.The cause of the fire remains undetermined, and no injuries were reported. The excellent photography seen in the first three photos is courtesy of Laura Austin of The News Review, Ridgecrest.