This is a developing story and will be updated. For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
Containment of the Fort Fire near the Grapevine in Kern County grew to 57% Friday morning, according to Cal Fire.
#FortFire seeing some crazy fire behavior, went on a large uphill run over the last 10 minutes. You can also see the smoke start to rotate similar to a tornado. pic.twitter.com/rZ1AFzqEbp
— SoCal Wildfire Tracker (@SkyzSmokey) June 5, 2025
The fire began just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday near Lebec and quickly spread to 240 acres, triggering evacuation orders for residents south west of the 5 Freeway and north of Temescal Drive and Digier Road. Those orders were lifted as of Friday morning.
The fire caused traffic delays on the nearby Grapevine through the Tejon Pass, according to the Kern County Fire Department.
Weather conditions helped contained the fire, with a low pressure system bringing a slight chance of showers in the mountain areas through Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service.
The basics
- Acreage: 240 acres as of Friday morning
- Containment: 57%
- Structures destroyed: Unknown
- Deaths: Unknown
- Injuries: Unknown
Listen to our Big Burn podcast
Fire resources and tips
Check out LAist's wildfire recovery guide
If you have to evacuate:
- Why fire officials don't want you to stay and defend your home
- How to get packed up
- How to leave your house
- What evacuation terms mean and how to sign up for alerts
Navigating fire conditions:
- How to drive in high winds and fire danger
- How to prep for power outages
- How to navigate poor air quality
How to help yourself and others:
- Resources for fire victims, evacuees and first responders
- If you want to help fire victims, resist the urge to volunteer
- How to help find lost pets
How to start the recovery process:
- What to do — and not do — when you get home after a wildfire
- How to make an insurance claim
- How to safely clean up wildfire ash
What to do for your kids:
- How to talk to children about wildfires and losing a home
- What parents should know about wildfire air quality
Prepare for the next disaster: