Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced in Sacramento this morning that Kern County was under a state of emergency. The Tehachapi fire, also known as the west fire, has been contained 25 percent. The Bull Fire isn’t really doing as well with 5 percent having been contained. Firefighters and containment finally are being used by cash-strapped California through this state of emergency.
Tehachapi fire background
Tuesday was when the Tehachapi fire started around a small community which is only 10 miles south of Tehachapi. After flames began consuming the town, Old West Ranch residents were forced to leave. West Fire is the name of the ranch that split and formed the community, which is why the fire was named that. The fire began with people who were cutting scrap metal with a grinder in dry grass. Now you will find 40 homes that no longer stand also as 1,400 acres which were burned. 150 other homes have had to evacuate.
Bull Fire background
The Bull Fire began in Kernville, California and burns 16,000 acres already. When the fire began, it quickly burned eight homes and six outbuildings down. The fire has hurt two firefighters so far. The cause of the Bull Fire has yet to be determined, and it is only about 5 percent contained.
Paying for a wildfire
Fire fighting is more expensive in budget-strapped California. The human cost and financial cost is too much for California right now. $1 million to $2.5 million is about what it costs per day to fight fires. An “average” wildfire fighting year for the U.S. Forest Service costs $500 million or more. The cost of fighting wildfires in California falls to various agencies. The California State Spending budget does most of it. Nothing is covered on this except the actual containment of the fire. The State of Emergency means that California can spend the money before they actually know where the money is coming from.
