Report: Lake County Wildfire Past and Future

By Madison Burton

“We Didn’t Start The Fire"

 I. Introduction and Proposal

Kern County is located in Southern California near Paso Robles and north of Los

Angeles. It is 330.8 miles away from Napa, California and 305.2 miles away from Vacaville,

California. It takes an estimate of 5 hours 20 minutes to reach Kern County from our location.

Kern County has an area of 8,163 mi² and has an estimated population of about 893,202 people.

Kern County is known for being the most productive oil-producing county and the fourth most

productive (agriculturally) within all of the U.S.

In Kern County, there are quite a few demographics. These include Hispanic (49.2%),

Caucasian (59.5%), Black (5.8%), Asian (4.2%), Mixed (4.5%), American Indian and Alaska

Native (1.5%), and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (0.1%). Kern County consists of

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51.4% males and 48.6% females. Within these demographics, the largest majority of the citizens

are between 0 through 17 years old (30.3%). Following that is the second largest demographic of

people between 25 - 34 years old (14.5%). The third largest demographic is 12.9% for both;

people between 35-44 years old and people between 45-54 years old. This adds up together to

25.8% and would be the second largest demographic except these numbers are constantly

changing so they have to be kept separate. The smallest percentages of demographics are people

between 18-24 years old (11.2%), people between 55-64 years old (9.2%), people between 52-74

years old (5.2%), and people 75+ years old with a 3.8% out of the inhabitants of Kern County.

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 Kern County has a very beautiful landscape which consists of lakes, mountain ranges,

hills, canyons, rivers, underground tunnels, and much, much more. While researching this

county, I have discovered much more about the area and definitely want to visit the area

sometime soon. Some major landmarks featured in Kern County is the Lakeview Gusher, The

Bakersfield Sign, Jr. OUAM Plaque, and Freeman Junction. Buena Vista Lake, Castac Lake, and

Lake Ming are just a few of the lakes featured in the area. Hidden underground tunnels are

located in Bakersfield, and were a myth within the community for an extended period of time

before they were confirmed and made known.

Kern County was founded in 1866 by Edward Kern, an American artist, explorer, and a

topographer. “Archaeological evidence suggests American Indians live in what is now known as

Kern County, along with the shores of Buena Vista Lake and in Walker Basin,” states a

Bakersfield news source. Over time, Kern County definitely adapted to new environments and

change, especially when under a new rule such as when they fell “under the flag of the Republic

of Mexico” very early in the year 1822. Five Mexican land grants were later established: Ranch

San Emigdio, Ranchos Los Álamos Y Agua Caliente, Rancho El Tejon, Rancho Castac, and

Ranch La Liebre. In the 1850s and 1860s, the latter of these were eventually combined to form

the Tejon Ranch, which is currently a land company in Lebec, California and is one of the largest

private landowners in California.

The Kern River was later named in 1845 after the topographer Edward M. Kern through

Fremont’s third expedition. Shortly after this, on February 2, 1848, Mexico ceded California to

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the U.S. through the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the

Mexican-American War. A little more than two years later, California was acknowledged as the

31st state in the U.S. A year after that, gold was discovered along the Kern River and a few years

later was discovered as well as Greenhorn Gulch on Greenhorn Mountain, the same year (1853)

as the town Keyesville was founded, which was named after Richard Keys. Somewhere around

August to September of 1853 Lt. Robert S. Williamson and Lt. John B. Parke conducted a

“railroad survey of the area.” Marine vertebrate fossils were discovered at what is now known as

Sharktooth Hill Bone Bed (along the Kern River) by William Blake, a geologist and a member of

the survey party. This was shortly before people traveled to the Kern River “seeking their

fortune” in the southern Sierra Nevada, “sparking a gold rush in the area.” The Sebastian Indian

Reservation was soon after established by Beale at Tejon Pass on 75,000 acres. From 1853 to

1864 the reservation housed 500 to 2,000 Native Americans. In 1855 Buena Vista County was

proposed, which would later be accepted as Kern County. Two years later, the Fort Tejon area

experienced a .9-magnitude earthquake which killed two people. The earthquake ruptured the

earth for approximately 225 miles along the San Andreas Fault.

In 1862, a Kern River flood destroyed mining operations alongside the river as well as a

“settlement” at Kern Island that was in 1860 started by Bohna. About a year later, the Keyesville

Massacre took place. It occurred during the Owens Valley Indian War where settlers (“and a

detachment of the 2nd California Volunteer Cavalry under Captain Moses A. McLaughlin”) kill

35 Tubatulabal Native Americans, Kawaiisu and Owens Valley Paiute “men” for “cattle

rustling.” The U.S. Army attacked the upper Kern River (about 10 miles from Keyesville). A few

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months later, Col. Thomas Baker and his family arrived at Kern Island and moved into the

“former” Bohna home. Baker reclaimed the swamplands in the area and then over time of two

years, he planted 10 acres of alfalfa which “roughly borders” the current 14th, 17th, K, and P

streets, which is what now is known as Baker’s Field. Over time, Kern County has progressed

and has become an absolutely beautiful area.

In Kern County, there have been many, many fires within even just the past 5 years. The

community was greatly affected by this both mentally and physically and has learned to adapt by

discovering various methods to cope with their pain. Kern County’s most destructive wildfire in

history was the Erskine Fire, which took place in June 2016. It killed two people, destroys nearly

300 “structures”, and burned 50,000 acres in the Lake Isabella area. “Fourteen of California's 20

largest wildfires on record have all burned since 2000, while pine beetles, heat and California’s

five-year drought have caused 66 million trees to die in the state’s Sierra Nevada forests since

2010. A formal modeling analysis has identified the fingerprint of global warming in California's

wildfires, reporting that "an increase in fire risk in California is attributable to human-induced

climate change.” The Erskine fire burned 48,019 acres, caused two deaths, and destroyed 257

structures. “The conditions that preceded and fueled the Erskine fire are consistent with

California climate and wildfire trends. Extreme heat and dryness served as the perfect recipe for

the Erskine wildfire, according to NOAA, and officials reported that dead trees are playing a

large role in the fire's power and volatility.”

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 So how have ecosystems in Kern County been affected by wildfire in recent history?

“Exposure to smoke from wildfires increases the number of hospitalizations and medical visits

associated with health issues like asthma, bronchitis, respiratory infections, and lung illnesses. In

Nevada’s Reno/Sparks area alone, the 2008 fire season resulted in almost $2 million in hospital

costs from wildfires within a 350-mile radius,” according to ClimateSignals.org. So these are a

few of the things that have changed for us. What about for the habitats and the animals that

inhabit them that call Kern County their home? Well, to state the obvious, the fire burned down

more than 20,000 acres of the environment which killed many animals and took their homes. The

smoke doesn’t just affect us, it affects them as well. For just about any animal, smoke can cause

cancer, which leaves its effect upon the ecosystem far longer than just the fire does.

Overall as a state, California’s 2018 fires have emitted as much carbon dioxide as an

entire year's worth of electricity, which is equivalent to “roughly” 68 million tons of carbon

dioxide. 68 million pounds of carbon dioxide “equates to about 15 percent of all California

emissions, and it is on par with the annual emissions produced by generating enough electricity

to power the entire state for a year. The recent Camp and Woolsey fires have produced emissions

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equivalent to roughly 5.5 million tons of carbon dioxide.... "We know that wildfires can be

deadly and cost billions of dollars, but this analysis from the U.S. Geological Survey also shows

just how bad catastrophic fires are for the environment and for the public's health," said

Secretary Zinke. "There's too much dead and dying timber in the forest, which fuels these

catastrophic fires. Proper management of our forests, to include small prescribed burns,

mechanical thinning, and other techniques, will improve forest health and reduce the risk of

wildfires, while also helping curb the carbon emissions. The intensity and range of these fires

indicate we can no longer ignore proper forest management. We can and must do a better job of

protecting both the forests and the communities on the urban-wildland interface. Leaving forests

unmanaged is no longer a safe option.”” The carbon dioxide emission calculations were

compared to those of 2016 which had been approximately 76 million tons according to data

provided by the California Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory (U.S.G.S.).

II. Mapping and Re-Building Proposal

Past Fire History - Maps

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 Kern County is known for being prone to fires and specifically in the Bakersfield area.

The fires over time have started around Greenhorn Mountain, Bakersfield, and Piute Mountains

before they spread to the Blue Mountain, Glennville, and Tehachapi areas. The fires soon spread

and resulted in thousands of acres being burnt down. “So far in 2018, approximately 32,600

acres have burned in California, compared to a five-year average of 19,235 acres by this time of

year,” states a Bakersfield news source (noted in my research log). “So far in 2018,

approximately 32,600 acres have burned in California, compared to a five-year average of

19,235 acres by this time of year, according to statistics from CAL FIRE.” Kern County has such

a potential for fires in spaces at risk and that definitely needs to be considered.

The real question is whether or not buildings be constructed the same way in these fire

prone areas? We need to be striving to rebuild the destroyed buildings and homes that we have

lost. We should rebuild where the fires have demolished, but definitely not in locations where

people were living in very high fire risk zones. We should build the houses to be more

fire-resistant, and enforce certain regulations that will prevent fires from burning down homes.

We need to take a look at materials that are fire-resistant (such as the materials listed below) and

go through other procedures such as making the structures sturdier than they already are, not

stacking firewood next to homes, placing covers on house vent, etc. People want to have

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convenience but they need to have a sense of safety and have humanities basic needs (food,

water, sleep, warmth, safety, and so on. This is shown within Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs).

We need to have the community document the exits in all of their homes and consider the best

way to exit the building as efficiently as possible. They should have backpacks already made so

then the different personnel don’t need to take time to pack their belongings as fires move very

fast and don’t time long at all to ravage everything as well as trap and eventually kill the

inhabitants of the area. We need to educate everyone on what to do in the event of an emergency

and have them pre-pack supplies and provisions. An evacuation plan is very important and then

being ready for in the event of a fire, especially as it could happen at any time and you could

need to get out as fast as possible.

Society should definitely take into consideration the materials used in the construction of

buildings and reconstruction. Using the right materials would prevent some of the blaze’s

severity and would therefore protect the household.

Fire Resistant:

Roofing and Siding:

- Fiberglass-Based Asphalt Shingles

- Recycled-Rubber Tile

- Metal Tile

- Clay Tile

- Slate

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 - Stone Veneer

- Fiber Cement

- Exterior Insulation Finish Systems

- Treated Wood

- Masonry

Decking and Framing:

- Composite Boards

- Wood-and-Glass Boards

- Pressure-Treated Wood

- Structural Insulated Panels

- Aerated Concrete

- Fire-Retardant Treated (FRT) Wood

- Insulated Concrete Forms

Windows and Door:

- SaftiFirst Glass

- Pilkington Glass

- Double-Pane

- Steel Garage Door

- ThermaTru Steel

- Wood Door

- Triple-Pane

Insulation and Systems:

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 - In-House Sprinkler System

- Mineral Wool Insulation

- Cellulose Insulation

- Electrical Box Fire Guards

- Fire Barrier for Recessed Lights

- Fire-Rated Caulk

The buildings should be built near the bottom of hills and on flat land as fires taker longer

on level landscape. People would as well have a much smaller percentage of vulnerability and

would take less time to evacuate the area before it is too late. There are many things to consider

when looking for an area to build. These include the topography, the materials used, surrounding

vegetation, and societal wants & needs. People have quite a few opinions on what is the most

important out of all the factors, but it is a fact that all of them need to be taken into consideration.

Leaving just one of these strengthens the fire and leaves a higher possibility for such severe

destruction.

III. Artistic Proposal

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 My art proposal is to create a garden where people can share their artwork with the

community and have a place to strike hope in others. It would attract tourists as well as provide a

space to the locals where they can feel at home and teach them a little more about their history. It

would help by relieving stress to be out in nature and help them feel more grounded. I thought of

it because I go to the Oakland Bonsai Garden all the time and also because I love to visit the

Mendocino Botanical Garden. Places like these relieve a lot of stress and help to make you feel

more connected to the earth and to art. It would include many different types of art but the main

two would include land art and murals.

So what power does art have on the expression of grief? Art can be used to invoke

diverse emotions throughout the community. “Art therapy, a hybrid field largely influenced by

the disciplines of art and psychology, uses the creative process, pieces of art created in therapy,

and third-party artwork to help people in treatment develop self-awareness, explore emotions,

address unresolved emotional conflicts, improve social skills, and raise self-esteem. Art therapy

primarily aims to help individuals experiencing emotional and psychological challenges achieve

personal well-being and improved levels of function,” states Douglas Mitchell in an article,

“How Art Heals Grief.” “We grieve by swinging between two main kinds of activities: loss and

restoration. Loss activities involve missing who or what was lost, crying, feeling sad, etc. This is

what we usually associate with grief. Restorative activities include feeling normal again,

socializing with friends and family, enjoying good weather, remembering better times, etc. This

is usually the unsung hero in grief, because it looks like what we think of as “normal” behavior,

but in the context of grief, it is definitely a part of the experience of mourning and also what

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helps us to endure, and eventually integrate, our losses into our lives,” states Ivan Chan in article

“The Pendulum of Grieving.” The community would be highly encouraged to contribute art to

the garden and to come witness what others have created as well as to gain new ideas,

specifically featuring Kern County’s history.

I experienced trouble finding an ideal lot in Bakersfield and decided upon 1430

Nord Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93314. It is quite large but I will be researching more to find a more

ideal lot where the art would be featured. I am looking for an open area that is big enough to

contain a beautiful garden as well as art created by the community. It would be free to the public

but donations would always be welcome. It would permanent and after the first 3 years of being

in place, 20-40% of all donations would be donated to fire victims.

The garden would include many flowers such as heaths, heathers, azaleas,

camellias, fuchsias, dahlias, magnolias, begonias, rhododendrons, and would also include

succulents and trees such as maples and conifers. Near the middle you would have many bonsais;

specifically maples and azaleas. In the upper and lower quadrants of the garden you would have

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one lake each with the upper surrounded by cool rocks and boulders to climb and sit on and the

latter would have three benched encircling it. Near the entrance redwoods would be immediately

planted so that in 65 years or so then you would be able to walk through a thriving redwood

forest. As you walk the paths, near the exit, there would be eight small buildings where people

can temporarily sell homemade goods and items. 20-50% (depending on the season) of the

profits would be donated to fire victims and non-profits helping them. Some of the items sold

here would be homemade honey, jams, fruit, art, jewelry, and anything handmade that people

would like to sell there. They would have to schedule a minimum of three months before and pay

a fee of 10 dollars that would go to the park. Workers would all be volunteers and all money that

is not donated to fire victims would be used to buy supplies for the park and to pay for water

fees, new tools, etc. Near the middle of the garden would be a bonsai/zen garden and murals

depicting the towns history and hopes for the future. As the people walk through the art, they

would see pivotal moments in the town's history as well as a diverse amount of art styles. We

would create different types art depicting famous wildfires in Kern County to grieve what we

lost in them. Near the entrance as well as the exit there would be artistic wooden boxes for

donations as well as volunteers to count how many people visit and to make sure that the garden

is locked up through the night. Near the exit there will be a parking lot as well as three

bathrooms. Four of the parking spots will be open for handicapped vehicles only.

Many materials would be used for the garden with the top being, obviously,

organic material. Other than that metal and fire-resistant wood as well as different types of paint

would be the top materials used. The art would impact the community mentally as well as emit

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high levels of oxygen into the air. The materials would be sourced from mainly donations as well

as from specialty stores specifically in art materials, hardware, and building supplies.

IV. References

(2019). Retrieved from

https://www.bakersfield.com/special/150-years/timeline-years-of-kern-county-history/arti

cle_3b1dbe9c-ece6-50d6-8b44-88fb09a8507a.html

Kern County. (2019). Retrieved from

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kern+County,+CA/@35.3849371,-118.7475535,7z/

data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x80eb04f6d3fb2d6b:0x79fc6f16baae23fa!8m2!3d35.4937274!4d-11

8.8596804

kern county - Google Search. (2019). Retrieved from

https://www.google.com/search?q=kern+county&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS812US812&oq=k

ern+county&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60j0j69i60l2j0.3018j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF

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Incidents, L. (2019). Latest Incidents. Retrieved from

http://www.kerncountyfire.org/news-incidents/latest-incidents1.html

New Analysis Shows 2018 California Wildfires Emitted as Much Carbon Dioxide as an Entire

Year's Worth of Electricity. (2019). Retrieved from

https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/new-analysis-shows-2018-california-wildfires-emitted

-much-carbon-dioxide-entire-years

Climate Signals | Erskine Fire 2016. (2019). Retrieved from

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 http://www.climatesignals.org/events/erskine-fire-2016

Allen, D. (2019). Kern County Fire crews still helping fight NorCal fires. Retrieved from

https://www.bakersfield.com/news/kern-county-fire-crews-still-helping-fight-norcal-fires

/article_0bdf4d10-7977-11e8-8c5f-9b1cfc61811b.html

Hughes, A., & Powers, M. (2019). How to Build a Fireproof Home. Retrieved from

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/how-to-build-fireproof-home

Mitchell, D. (2012). Art Therapy. Retrieved from

https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/art-therapy

Chan, I. (2019). The Pendulum of Grieving. Retrieved from

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pendulum-of-grieving-0301125/

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