HOMES THREATENED BY FIRE

City and county fire crews fought hard to keep a grass fire from burning homes as 20 acres went up in smoke.The fire around Cottonwood Road and Belle Terrace in southeast Bakersfield. It broke out for unknown reasons just past 1:00 Wednesday afternoon and quickly threatened half a dozen houses. The fire was put out before any structures suffered damage. Firefighters say the situation shows just how important it is to have defensible space around your home.

Sean Michael Lisle