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Lost Fire Burns 682 Acres West of Bakersfield, Forces Evacuations in Kern County
ANTHONY SITE PHOTO
By Anthony W. Haddad
Published 2 hours ago on
June 18, 2026

The Lost Fire burned 682 acres west of Bakersfield and prompted evacuation orders in Kern County as it spread rapidly with 0% containment. (CalFire)

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A wildfire known as the Lost Fire burned 682 acres Thursday west of Bakersfield in the Lost Hills area, prompting evacuation orders as flames moved rapidly through dry vegetation, CalFire reported.

The fire was first reported at 3:03 a.m. Thursday about four miles northwest of Lokern and Lost Hills roads, roughly 35 miles west of Bakersfield, according to incident information. It remained at 0% containment as of the latest update.

Authorities said the blaze was under investigation and was moving uphill, aligned with terrain and wind, contributing to a “dangerous rate of spread,” according to incident updates.

Evacuation orders were issued for zones KRN-209-B and KRN-219-B, with officials warning of an “immediate threat to life” and ordering residents to leave the area.

The zones, KRN-209-B and KRN-219-B, in Kern County are under an urgent evacuation order. (ReadyKern)
The zones, KRN-209-B and KRN-219-B, in Kern County are under an urgent evacuation order. (ReadyKern)

The fire grew rapidly through the day, expanding from 70 acres in the morning to 100 acres, then 400 acres, before reaching 682 acres by early afternoon, according to updates.

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Anthony W. Haddad,
Multimedia Journalist
Anthony W. Haddad, who graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with his undergraduate degree and attended Fresno State for a MBA, is the Swiss Army knife of GV Wire. He writes stories, manages social media, and represents the organization on the ground.
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