This time lapse video taken over 10 minutes demonstrates the speed and ferocity of the West Fire near Tehachapi. And firefighters say conditions are right for more destructive fires before the season is over. "They're devastated. There isn't anything more you can say than that. This was their life," says Amy Brooks, homeowner.
Firefighters lighting backfires on the Bull Fire to control the burn show just easy this dry brush goes up in flames. But prevention Batallion Chief Debbie Santiago says it didn't have to be this way. "You gotta reduce the fuels." Santago says part of the problem is part-time homeowners. "You come to recreate, you come to fish, come rest, come relax, well who wants to clean their cabin. And that's really important. We are not going to be able to save cabins that we can't save themselves."
Some question why firefighters didn't use more controlled burns as a prevention tool before these wildland fires broke out.
The burns rob potential wildfires of their fuel.
But Michael Nicholas of the Kern County Fire Department says politics come into play: "Environmentalists don't like to see the wildland destroyed and the controlled burns can't happen on bad air quality days. Plus there's the danger of controlled burns going out of control."
Fire prevention crews did use dozers to create natural breaks they credit with saving dozens of homes. But experts say brush clearing resources only go so far. "We're not always going to be there when they want us to be there. "We try! But we can't. Get weedeaters in your neighborhood. Ask for a chipping day with the fire safe counsel," added Nicholas.
The fire season began on May 18th but the Kern County Fire Department says it's too soon to determine when it will end.
