River Fire
- 100% Contained
- 3,535 Acres
- 1 County: Kern
05/18/2026 8:27 AM
05/22/2026 9:31 PM
05/21/2026 5:25 PM
Under Investigation
Unified Command: CAL FIRE, Kern County Fire Department and Sequoia National Forest
No team assigned
State Route 178 Mouth of the Canyon, East of Bakersfield
Status reports
Incident Updates
The River Fire is 100% contained.
Watch this time-lapse as firefighters aggressively attack the River Fire from both the ground and the air. Coordinated efforts from crews and firefighting aircraft continue to play a critical role in slowing fire spread and protecting threatened areas.
The River Fire is 70% contained.
The River Fire is now 3,535 acres.
The River Fire is 2,535 acres and 15% contained.
The River Fire is 2,331 acres and 10% contained. There continues to be wind-driven uphill runs with active fire behavior and difficult access due to the remote location.
The fire is now 1,800 acres and 10% contained.
The River Fire is now in Unified Command with Sequoia National Forest. Total acreage has increased to 225 acres with 0% containment.
New incident in Kern County - River Fire, is 100 acres with 0% containment. Fire has a moderate rate of spread and is in a remote location making it difficult to access. Ground and air resources are assigned. Please be advised, there are road closures in the area.
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