The historic Kern County town of Havilah has been nearly destroyed by the Borel Fire, leaving the community facing a challenging rebuilding process. (X)
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The historic mining town of Havilah in Kern County has been nearly destroyed by the Borel Fire, leaving the community facing the difficult challenge of rebuilding, reports SF Gate.
Images and video from the weekend reveal the extensive damage inflicted on the town, situated about 60 miles northeast of Bakersfield. Most buildings along Caliente Bodfish Road, including the historic courthouse, were lost to the fire. The old schoolhouse was one of the few structures that survived; KGET reported that firefighters intervened when embers ignited beneath it, managing to put out the fire before it spread.
WILDFIRE NEWS ⚠️🔥 Borel Fire Burns Over 32,000 Acres, Impacts Historic Town of Havilah, CA on July 27, 2024 🎥 @disasterupdate#BorelFire #Havilah #California #Wildfire #FireActivity #HistoricTown #EmergencyResponse #BreakingNews #FireSafety #WildfireSeason #USNews pic.twitter.com/3PQvya3Fek
— Kristy Tallman (@KristyTallman) July 28, 2024
“Our hearts are out to those members of the public in the Havilah and Piute Meadows area,” Kern County fire deputy chief Dionisio Mitchell said at a news conference Saturday. “We know they took a loss yesterday. It’s difficult for them.”
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Founded in the 1860s after gold was discovered, Havilah experienced a population boom and was named after a biblical land known for its wealth. The town once featured a newspaper, saloons, hotels, dance halls, and drugstores, reaching a peak population of 3,000.
By the early 20th century, Havilah had dwindled into a ghost town. In 1921, the Bakersfield Echo referred to it as a “deserted village, buried deep in the beautiful mountains of Kern County,” with only three residents. The town suffered additional damage from wildfires in the 1920s, and some of its historic buildings were rebuilt replicas.
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The Borel Fire began Wednesday when a driver on Highway 178 veered off the road under unknown circumstances. Firefighters found the driver deceased, and the fire had spread to both sides of the highway. The blaze has consumed over 38,000 acres with no containment. Evacuation details are available on Cal Fire.
Sequoia National Forest officials reported that the fire remained “very active” due to red flag conditions on Saturday.
Read more at SF Gate.
