KGET 17 News

By KGET News

Kern County's News Leader KGET 17, bringing you Kern County's top stories. Visit KGET.com for more.... more

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August 12, 202417 News @ Sunrise 08/12/2024
Some of today's top stories
We begin with news breaking overnight.
A man is dead this morning after being hit by a car in east Bakersfield. It happened last night just after 10 p.m.
The man was riding a bicycle on East California Avenue near South Tulare Street when he was hit.
He suffered major injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bakersfield police say speed and impairment do NOT appear to be factors in this crash.
No arrests were made.
The man's identity has not been publicly released.
Now to Kern County's newest wildfire called the Blue Fire.
The blue fire started about 12:30 Saturday afternoon near Sand Canyon Road in Caliente. The fire has burned 430 acres and was 35% contained as of the latest update. A level 2 evacuation is still in effect near Twin Oaks.
To check your zone go to the Genasys protect app or go to our website KGET.com.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Now for an update on the Borel Fire in the mountains east of Bakersfield.
The fire is just over 59-thousand acres and is *91-percent contained. 223 structures were destroyed, according to Calfire.
Portions of Caliente Bodfish Road are still closed.
Access to the Havilah area is restricted to *residents only* for property assessments.
The Borel Fire started 19 days ago after a pick-up truck went over the edge of the canyon near the Democrat Day Use Area...catching fire and killing the driver.
Kern County has opened a Local Assistance Center for state, local and nonprofit resources for survivors of the Borel Fire.
17's Rob Hagan more on the services and the people providing them.
...more
23min
August 09, 202417 News @ Sunrise 08/09/2024
Some of today's top stories
A new court filing obtained by 17 News shows former county Supervisor Zack Scrivner says he can't afford to pay child support... since he's now unemployed.
17's Jenny Huh has the story.
now to the Borel Fire.
We are happy to report it is nearing full containment this morning...more than two weeks after it started. That fire is now just over 59-thousand acres and is 88-percent contained this hour...leaving a trail of destruction that's claimed hundreds of buildings and left many families homeless.
Some of them now returning to see what's left...as evacuation orders are lifted.
This all started the afternoon of July 24th when a pick-up truck went over the edge of the canyon...catching fire and killing the driver.
The Borel Fire has wreaked havoc on our Mountain communities, destroying hundreds of structures and damaging dozens more.
tHE residents of Havilah are now returning home, to find out what's left.
17's Mikhala Armstrong has more
...more
23min
August 08, 202417 News @ Sunrise 08/08/2024
Some of today's top stories
Kern County has not stopped shaking... ever since that 5.2 magnitude earthquake rumbled through Tuesday night... shaking homes, breaking windows and waking people from their sleep.
There have been hundreds of aftershocks - including a 4-point-4, widely felt, just after seven o'clock last night. The epicenter of Tuesday's 5-point-2 quake, was roughly eight miles west of Mettler and Interstate 5.
Data from the U.S. Geological Survey shows there have been hundreds of aftershocks, although most of them were too small to feel.
Seismologists say we can expect to feel aftershocks from Tuesday's quake for up to a week.
But, what they don't know is which fault the activity is coming from.
Kimberly Cheng with our sister station KTLA looks into the possibility it's a *new* fault.
Local Public safety experts are calling for more preparedness and safety as we continue to experience aftershocks, and for future earthquakes to come. CSUB geological science professor William Krugh (CREW) says sometimes, people's first instincts aren't the safest bet.
When earthquakes happen, Krugh says one of the worst things to do is run outside. Standing in a door way has long been reccomended, but that thinking now is considered out of date according to Krugh, because you could be hit by the door.
So again, your best bet is to get under something sturdy, away from windows or un-anchored furniture, and protect your head.
If you want other ways to keep yourself safe during these earthquakes, head to the disaster preparedness page on our website, KGET dot com
You can get early earthquake warnings by downloading the "My Shake" app for your smartphone.
This free app collects data from it's motion sensors to detect moderate-to-large earthquakes and can warn users to "drop, cover and hold on" shortly before a tremor begins.
Scientist say even a few seconds could be the difference between life and death.
Turning now to the Borel Fire, which charred the mountains east of Bakersfield. Crews are holding the line against what is now the largest fire in Kern County history--at almost 60-thousand acres burned.
The fire is 84-percent contained as of news time.
Yesterday afternon firefighters started escorting residents of Havilah and surrounding areas as they begin assessing the condition of their properties. KCFD reporting the fire destroyed over 200 structures, including 63 single family homes, 55 mobile homes and 34 motor homes...that's everything you see in red.
16 structures sustained varying levels of damage.
Almost 87-hundred other buildings escaped the flames' destruction--that's everything you see in black.
No injuries or deaths have been reported. And doctors are issuing this warning--do not disturb ash and debris the inferno left in its wake.
Harmful chemicals can become concentrated in the ash and soil following a fire.
And moving any of the waste from your property can disqualify hazardous waste removal assistance the county is trying to secure from the state.
...more
25min
August 07, 202417 News @ Sunrise 08/07/2024
Some of today's top stories
It shook homes, broke windows, woke people up from their sleep, and it even shut down Interstate-5.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake rattled Kern County just after 9 o'clock last night, striking near Mettler, just south of Bakersfield. Bakersfield Police and Kern County Fire tell us there have been no reports of any structural damage or injuries... but it left plenty of people shaken up. surveillance video capturing the moment the earthquake hit. liquor bottles falling off the lower shelves as an employee and customers bolt out of the store.
This all happening at Verdugo Market on Mettler Frontage Road -- about 10 miles from the epicenter of the quake. The earthquake also caused a major headache for drivers on Interstate-5.... in the shape of a large boulder.
It closed lanes for nearly two hours as Cal Trans workers used heavy equipment to clear the debris.
The road is back open this morning. And then there was this -- emergency crews last night responding to a hazmat investigation on Old River Road near Highway 166.
Employees at the Cuties Plant there reported smelling amonia shortly after the quake struck.
The plant was evacuated out of an abundance of caution as crews swept the plant.
Officials with Kern County Fire later confirmed there was no leak, and allowed the employees to return. last night's 5.2 earthquake seen in real-time on a seismograph.
It was captured by aerospace specialist Jared Head at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
Seismographs are installed in the ground throughout the world and operate as part of a network to capture ground motion.
There were several food and gas station workers who were still awake and working close to the epicenter when the quake hit.
As 17's Connor Dore reports, the initial feeling was that of shock, fear, and confusion.
Here's seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones talking about where last night's quake hit.
One way to prepare for future earthquakes is by downloading the My Shake alert app.
It's free to download on your smart phone and can give you a few seconds heads up before the shaking begins.
Experts say even a few moments to prepare could be the difference between life and death.
Here are some tips to help keep you safe in the event of another earthquake or aftershock.
If you're indoors, stand in a doorway or get under a sturdy table or desk and cover your head.
Stay away from windows and any heavy furniture that is not fastened to a wall.
If you're driving, get to an open area, away from trees and power lines, and *stay inside your vehicle.
These temblors come just days after the 5-year anniversary of the Ridgecrest earthquakes.
In 2019, Ridgecrest and the town of Trona were rocked by several intense earthquakes, including a magnitude 6.4 on the Fourth of July... and then the mainshock -- a 7.1 magnitude -- on the Fifth.
The shaking caused significant damage to several buildings in the region.
It was felt as far away as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Sacramento.
They were also the strongest quakes to strike California in the past 20 years.
Remarkably, no one died in Ridgecrest, but one death was reported in Nevada.
Last night's earthquake also comes just weeks after the 72nd anniversary of another major earthquake that shook Kern County.
The Summer of 1952 was defined by a series of seismic shocks that terrified the Golden Empire.
The main shock of those temblors -- a 7.3 -- striking just before five o'clock the morning of July 21st...with aftershocks shaking the county for 33 days.
14 people died in those quakes...including two in Bakersfield on August 22nd.
Geologists telling us that massive series of devastating earthquakes happened not far from the epicenter of the one that struck last night.
...more
35min
August 06, 202417 News @ Sunrise 08/06/2024
Some of today's top stories
Turning now to the latest on the investigation into former Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner.
Yesterday, we caught our first glimpse of Scrivner - since April.
Scrivner resigned from the Board Friday, and yesterday supervisors held a special meeting to discuss the future of his vacated seat.
17's Jenny Huh has the story.
Prosecutors have filed charges against two men in connection to the mass killing in Mojave last year. The shooting happened late in the night in April 2023.
Four people were shot and killed.
According to court documents, Ricardo Reyes-Partida was seen arguing with two of the victims earlier in the day.
He pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges last week and is being held without bail.
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There is a warrant this morning for Jonathan Hernandez, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact and attempted murder.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the DA's Office at 661-868-2340.
In your 17 follow-up file this morning...
The city of Wasco is set to fill the mayoral vacancy today... after Wasco Mayor Alex Garcia resigned from his post last week, amid allegations swirling around social media. The city will hold a meeting this evening, where they will appoint a councilmember to fulfill the remainder of the former mayor's term.
Calls for Garcia to resign came after a video posted by a shadowy group, accused Garcia of attempting to meet an underage boy in Bakersfield.
In the video, Garcia is also slapped by those behind the camera, who appear to have set up a sting operation targeting such questionable behavior.
17 News reached out to Garcia unsuccessfully multiple times for comment, but in a statement on his resignation, Garcia writes in part quote "I want to assure you that the accusations made against me are mischaracterized and inaccurate and certainly do not reflect who I am or what I stand for."
Now to the latest on the Borel Fire, still burning in the mountains east of Bakersfield.
Fire crews say they stopped the fire's advance to the south and are now focused on containing the flames in the mountains east of Lake Isabella. Nearly 60-thousand acres burned so far.
Containment this morning is up to 71-percent.
The Borel Fire was sparked by a fatal truck crash in the Kern River Canyon on July 24. State Route 178 is open through the Kern River Canyon.
But motorists may encounter longer than usual wait times with one way traffic control in specific sections as fire equipment moves through the canyon.
Caliente Bodfish Road has been closed at Kern Canyon Road.
For a complete list of road closures related to the Borel Fire, log on to kern emergencies-dot-com.
...more
22min
August 05, 202417 News @ Sunrise 08/05/2024
Some of today's top stories
Fire crews say they've stopped the Borel Fire to the south but they're still fighting it in the mountains East of the town of Lake Isabella. The fire has burned almost 60-thousand acres and is now 57-percent contained as of news time.
The Borel Fire burned over 53,000 acres in less than four days.
It started over a week ago when a pick up truck went over the edge of the canyon and caught fire-killing the driver.
California Highway Patrol is now investigating whether alcohol was a factor in that crash.
Fire officials updated residents impacted by the Borel fire in a community meeting in Lake Isabella yesterday afternoon.
Some people applauded fire crews, others criticized them for not saving their homes.
17's Rob Hagan was there.
KGET has teamed up with Kern River Valley Bridge Connection and the Boys and Girls clubs to collect gift cards for wildfire survivors.
We're looking for gift cards from any of the businesses you see here that can be used in the Lake Isabella area.
You can drop off those and any other monetary donations at our studios on 22nd and L in downtown Bakersfield through tomorrow.
Distribution is Wednesday from 10a-1p at the future home of the KRV Bridge Connection located at 6069 Lake Isabella Blvd.
Now to the latest on the investigation into former county supervisor Zack Scrivner.
Today -- Scrivner and his wife, Christina, are due back in family court. The estranged wife of the former supervisor is requesting an expedited hearing on child support for their four children.
According to court documents... Christina Scrivner writes she is quote "in desperate need" of money.
She also claims Scrivner won't voluntarily pay for child support.
This comes after an incident at their Tehachapi home more than three months ago...where the former supervisor allegedly sexually assaulted a preteen.
Scrivner resigned from his position on Friday.
The board of supervisors is set to hold a special meeting today at 2 p.m. to discuss the next steps in filling the district 2 vacancy.
...more
19min
August 02, 202417 News @ Sunrise 08/02/2024
Some of today's top stories
Supervisor Zack Scrivner has resigned from the Kern County Board of Supervisors, effective today, amid allegations of sexual assault.
Since 2011, he has represented the county's 2nd District, which includes eastern and central communities surrounding Tehachapi.
17's Jenny Huh has been following the investigation...
She joins us in studio now with more on the future of Scrivner's seat. the County released a statement late last night saying Board Chair David Couch received a letter of resignation from Scrivner.
Scrivner says he is resigning quote "for significant health and medical reasons."
Wasco Mayor Alex Garcia has officially resigned his post, amid allegations swirling around social media. Calls for Garcia to resign came after a video posted by a shadowy group, accused Garcia of attempting to meet an underage boy in Bakersfield.
In the video, Garcia is also slapped by those behind the camera, who appear to have set up a sting operation targeting such questionable behavior.
17 News reached out to Garcia unsuccessfully multiple times for comment, but in a statement on his resignation, Garcia writes in part quote "I want to assure you that the accusations made against me are mischaracterized and inaccurate and certainly do not reflect who I am or what I stand for." Details on how to fill the vacancy will be finalized at Tuesday's City Council meeting.
the Borel Fire, which has been terrorizing our mountain communities for more than a week now.
Firefighters reporting the inferno has now burned nearly 60-thousand acres and is 47-percent contained as of news time.
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The Sheriff's office now asking evacuees of Havilah to report how many people lived in their homes at the time of the fire and if everyone has been accounted for to the Communications Center at 861-3110. Meantime, some folks are returning to their homes.
Evacuation warnings have been lifted in a few of the zones closest to Lake Isabella.
And a couple of evacuation orders have been downgraded to warnings...meaning those homeowners can return home...but they must be ready to go if another order comes down.
Yesterday evening, the Red Cross closed its evacuation center in Ridgecrest, however the shelter at the Tehachapi Education Center remains open.
Countless individuals have reached out looking for ways to help the people who've lost everything in the Borel Fire. So we've teamed up with Kern River Valley Bridge Connection and the Boys and Girls club to collect gift cards for wildfire survivors.
We're looking for gift cards from Vons, Dollar General, Walmart, Grocery Outlet, Taco Bell and other places that these survivors can use in the Lake Isabella area. You can drop of those gift cards and any other monetary donations at our studios on 22nd and L in downtown Bakersfield through Tuesday.
Distribution is Wednesday at the Boys and Girls Club in Lake Isabella.
...more
27min
August 01, 202417 News @ Sunrise 08/01/2024
Some of today's top stories
We begin this morning with the latest on the Borel Fire, still burning in the mountains east of Bakersfield.
People in those communities still watching and waiting to return to their homes...or at least to go back and see what's left. The U.S. Forest Service now reporting this wildfire has scorched more than 58-thousand acres.
But firefighters continue to make progress...
The wildfire is about 39-percent contained as of news time.
The Borel Fire started over a week ago when a pick-up truck crashed over the edge of the canyon on highway 178...catching fire and killing the driver.
The inferno exploded in a matter of hours...eating up dry fuel and racing up unforgiving terrain...showing firefighters fire weather they'd never seen in that area before.
It more than tripled in size Friday night...destroying the historic town of Havilah in the process.
The blaze continued to spread over the weekend...threatening the communities of Bodfish and Lake Isabella.
But conditions eased and firefighters reported containment for the first time Monday.
State and local leaders declared Borel an emergency...and CHP reopened highway 178 Tuesday. Still thousands of people remain under evacuation orders and warnings...and, while the scope of the evacuations hasn't grown in days... there's no clear timeline of when those orders will be lifted.
The people of Bodfish are slowly returning to their homes in the Kern River Valley, with the grim prospect of picking up the pieces from the fire that tore through their community.
17's Rob Hagan has more on the relief efforts there.
Price gouging during an emergency like the Borel Fire is illegal.
That's the warning from California's top prosecutor. Attorney General Rob Bonta issuing a reminder to businesses and landlords they cannot raise the prices of essential supplies, hotels, rental housing and more during this time of a natural disaster.
He urges those who believe they've been the victim of price gouging to report it to their local authorities.
Any business found in violation will be subject to criminal prosecution that can result in a year in jail and a possible fine up to $10-thousand dollars.
In your 17 News court watch...
The trial of two men charged with the murder of a Kern County corrections counselor is nearing its end after weeks of testimony. Closing arguments began in a Bakersfield courtroom yesterday.
Prosecutors say Robert Roberts and Sebastian Parra fatally shot prison counselor Benny Alcala Jr. while trying to rob him at the Stockdale Target parking lot the night of Aug. 24, 2022. But an attorney for Roberts says *Parra* was the shooter...painting him as a psychopath who killed Alcala for no reason.
Meantime, Para's lawyer says Roberts acted alone and his client was nearby, but didn't participate.
Closing arguments will resume later this morning.
The discussion on a motion to postpone a preliminary hearing of a former Bakersfield police officer charged with vehicular manslaughter is set for today.
The motion hearing was originally scheduled for July 23rd.
But attorney David A. Torres made a special appearance for the attorney representing former officer Ricardo Robles...and asked that the hearing be moved to August First -- which is today.
The 24-year-old officer is accused of driving a patrol vehicle early January 19th, 2023 at more than 100 mph –- without overhead flashing lights activated — as he tried to catch up to a chase.
He ran a stop sign and hit a Honda Accord at the intersection of South Vineland and Muller roads -- killing the driver, Mario Lares, and seriously injuring the passenger, Ana Hernandez.
...more
25min
July 31, 202417 News @ Sunrise 07/31/2024
Some of today's top stories
Now to an update this morning on the devastating Borel Fire.
CHP reporting Highway 178 is now open in both directions.
But the danger is still far from over.
Borel has scorched more than 57-thousand acres since it started less than a week ago.
And it's only 22-percent contained.
California Governor Gavin Newsom paying first responders a visit yesterday morning to see the devastion of the inferno.
17's Jenny Huh brings us the story.
"Unprecedented."
That's how firefighters described the behavior of the Borel Fire as they called on local leaders to declare it the *largest* wildfire in Kern County history.
The Borel Fire now larger than the Erskine Creek fire that scorched more than 51-thousand acres in 1942...and the more-recent Erskine Fire that incinerated nearly 48-thousand acres in 2016. County supervisors declared the Borel fire a local emergency during their meeting in Bakersfield yesterday.
That paves the way for more state and federal assistance in battling this fire...*and* funding for rebuilding once the fire is out.
Countless people have lost their homes as the inferno punished the Kern River Valley. More than 23-hundred people remain under evacuation orders as of newstime this morning.
Nearly 35-hundred others are under evacuation warnings...with no clear timeline on when those orders will be lifted.
In your 17 crime watch..
We are learning more this morning about a man who died with an apparent gunshot wound after the car he was in crashed into a parked flatbed truck in Lamont. According to the Kern County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the intersection of Georgetown Avenue and Field Street Monday night around 9:30.
A man found in a sedan had "major injuries" and was declared dead at the scene.
The identity of the victim has not been released at this time.
No arrests had been made and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Kern County Sheriff's Office at 861-3110 or The Kern Secret Witness at 322-4040.
...more
29min
July 30, 202417 News @ Sunrise 07/30/2024
Some of today's top stories
-- firefighters are gaining group on the Borel Fire, as it continues its trek across the Kern River Valley.
The blaze has quickly become one of Kern's largest and most destructive wildfires. All eyes were on Walker Basin and Rankin Ranch as flames inched closer.
But some of those folks are breathing a sigh of relief...as fire crews exhaust themselves to slow the spread. This after the Borel Fire nearly leveled the community of Havilah over the weekend...burning almost every building...including the historic courthouse. This fire started last Wednesday afternoon when a car crashed over the edge of the canyon...catching fire and killing the driver.
It more than tripled in size in a matter of days.
It has now scorched more than 57-thousand acres and is 5-percent contained. Still, hundreds of people remain under evacuation orders tonight...and more are watching and waiting to leave if the fire continues to spread.
Everyone living in the red zone is urged to go now if you haven't already.
Those living in the orange zones should pack and prepare to leave in case an order comes down.
The sheriff says, if you're told to go -- leave immediately.
Ignoring evacuation orders puts lives at risk, including first responders.
Though the Borel Fire continues to rage, some residents are starting to see positive signs on the ground.
17's Robert Price paid a visit to the wildfire battlefield.
while many in the Walker Basin area have evacuated, those who live on Rankin Ranch have decided to stay and protect their home.
17's Justin White visited the ranch once again to see how the Rankin family is faring with the Borel Fire looming nearby.
...more
23min

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