DEER FIRE BURNS BEAR MOUNTAIN

A 500 acre wildfire is burning on Bear Mountain and threatens homes.Highway 223 was closed between Highway 58 and Deer Trail Drive. The Deer Fire began just after 2:00 PM Friday and lead to recommended evacuations for 80 to 100 homes on the other side of the hill in Bear Valley Springs. An evacuation center has been set up at Jacobson Middle School in Tehachapi.  6 Air tankers and 8 helicopters were attacking the fire trying to keep it from cresting over the mountain top. At last look, it was about two-thirds up the side of the mountain on the other side of Bear Valley. The air attack will continue Saturday.