Two homes caught fire Thursday evening in east Bakersfield. Both city and county firefighters were called to the three-alarm fire at Niles and Haley Streets.
Firefighters said the initial call came in around 4:51 p.m. Crews say a home at 1320 Niles Street is heavily damaged, but crews believe the fire started at the home next door which was destroyed by the fire.
Firefighters were able to save two other structures, but falling embers from palm trees made things difficult for crews.
"We also had to deal with the palm trees here on fire that were spitting embers downwind, caused a couple of grass fires. So we had to have crews in four or five different locations at the same time. There are no injuries to report," said Battalion Chief Ross Kelly, Bakersfield City Fire Department.
The fire forced Bakersfield police officers to close Niles Street between Haley and Miller Streets. Fire crews were asking people to avoid the area, but large crowds gathered nearby.
Firefighters did not know where the fire started. They said investigators would try and determine that Thursday night. Crews believe the home that is heavily damaged was vacant at the time of the fire.
