Piute fire update

The Piute fire is about 30 miles east of Bakersfield and 7 miles southeast of Lake Isabella. As of 0900 it is 14,523 acres and 15% contained. From Kern County this morning:

The fire has been slowly progressing in an easterly direction towards Kelso Creek. Yesterday, air operations made significant water and retardant drops on the fire. Firefighters continue constructing and securing hand line, mopping up and providing structure protection along the S flank of the fire. On the W flank, crews have completed hand line and dozer line construction from Brown Meadow to the Liebel Peak area and are continuing S toward King Solomon Ridge today.

Hotshot crews are scouting the N flank of the fire in Erskine Creek, looking for opportunities to establish an anchor point and begin fire line construction. Firefighters continue to construct hand line into Landers Meadow, tying in with the existing dozer line. A contingency line north of Claraville has been completed. Firefighters continue their work securing Erskine Creek Road and providing structure protection along Piute Mountain Road, Rocky Point, Valley View and Erskine Creek.

Here is a grab from the web cam.

The latest map:

Picture of Air Tanker 910 dropping on the Piute fire, courtesy of AFP