Full Coverage: Erskine fire

The flames may have destroyed Holly Lightner’s home, but she’s grateful that she still has South Lake.

Nine wildfires continued to burn throughout California on Monday, as flames left nearly 70,000 acres scorched, and occupied the efforts of more than 5,000 firefighters, according to state and federal fire authorities.

Tensions were running high Sunday at Kernville Elementary School, where dozens of evacuees camped out over the weekend as a massive wildfire continued to burn out of control in Kern County.

There wasn’t a lot to do in town.

Another unseasonable heat wave was expected to hit Southern California early this week, complicating efforts to contain the massive wildfire raging in Kern County, forecasters said.

Tensions were running high Sunday morning at Kernville Elementary School, where dozens of evacuees camped out over the weekend as a massive wildfire continued to burn out of control in Kern County.

Firefighters continue to battle the deadly Erskine fire, which has burned in a random pattern, razing some neighborhoods and leaving others nearby untouched.

The scramble to contain the wildfire drew more than 1,100 firefighters from across California, with hundreds more on the way.

Carl Conklin of South Lake describes how he noticed the Erskine fire while he was barbecuing and didn’t think much of it.

As David Brinsfield headed up to a wildfire that had just been reported on the edge of Lake Isabella late Thursday afternoon, he listened to the radio chatter.

As a massive wildfire in Kern County continued to burn out of control Saturday, sheriff’s officials said they may have found the remains of a third person killed in the fire.

The smell of smoke startled Nathan Magee as he settled down to watch television in his eastern Kern County home.

Fire officials confirmed two fatalities Friday in a fast-moving fire near Lake Isabella that has scorched more than 30,000 acres and destroyed 100 structures.

Smoking a cigarette inside her black Jeep, Cher Buys, 63, has been trying to stay hopeful that her home in Weldon is still standing after a massive Kern County fire swept through.

Bob Easterday was cutting a fire break behind his house close to where the Erskine fire started Thursday afternoon when he got a call to hurry over to the Kern Valley Hospital, where he works as the facilities director.

Dozens of homes burned Thursday evening in a fast-moving fire that broke out in a rural area of Kern County, the most destructive blaze in a week of brush fires across Southern and Central California.