A gradient wind (non-thunderstorm) with speeds at 40 MPH plus was caused by the old center of Hurricane Ignacio moving over the San Joaquin Valley. Arsonist started blazes, named the "Chocktaw Fire," pushed into homes northeast of Bakersfield and two were destroyed with 4 others damaged.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS HNX wrote it up.
A gradient wind (non-thunderstorm) with speeds at 40 MPH plus was caused by the old center of Hurricane Ignacio moving over the San Joaquin Valley. Arsonist started blazes, named the "Chocktaw Fire," pushed into homes northeast of Bakersfield and two were destroyed with 4 others damaged. One firefighter was burned while fighting the fire. The damage cost was estimated. This same wind also was responsible for starting a fire in the Tehachapi Mountains by arcing power lines. Over 1150 acres were burned in the "Comanche Fire" located 10 miles WSW of Tehachapi. Points 8 miles east to 17 miles south of Bakersfield in the Southern San Joaquin Valley also experienced visibilities to near zero in blowing dust from this event. Numerous minor traffic accidents occurred but no injuries or fatalities were reported from California Highway Patrol. Damage costs for the blowing dusts were estimated. Crop damage may have occurred but not assessable by the County Ag Commissioner.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 wildfire, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Two homes destroyed and 4000 acres of grassland were burned.
1151 acres of grassland and forest were destroyed.
Blowing dust in the South San Joaquin Valley from points east to south of Bakersfield obscured visibilities to near zero in 40 MPH wind.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in California, August 1997
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5608768, 5608769, 5608770.