BEAR VALLEY SPRINGS EVACUATIONS

A wildfire of more than 40 acres forced evacuations in Bear Valley Springs.The fire began around 10:20 AM Wednesday in the area of Frontier Way and Cumberland Road. Several homes were evacuated while four air tankers and four helicopters joined about 150 firefighters on the ground to keep the burn from getting away. The evacuees were able to return after a few hours. Among the hand crews were inmates from the nearby state prison in Tehachapi. The cause is under investigation but fire officials say it may have been started by someone mowing brush to reduce fire risk.