California, 1997

Wildfire in California, May 16 to 20, 1997

May 16 to 20, 1997 · NWS HNX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

The Lokern fire between McKittrick and Tupman in Kern County burned 47,350 acres from the time it was set by lightning on May 16 until contained on May 20. While no damage was done to the threatened petroleum fields and structures, one tractor-trailer was destroyed in the fire.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS HNX wrote it up.

The Lokern fire between McKittrick and Tupman in Kern County burned 47,350 acres from the time it was set by lightning on May 16 until contained on May 20. While no damage was done to the threatened petroleum fields and structures, one tractor-trailer was destroyed in the fire. No injuries or other damage reported. NWS HNX supported suppression efforts by weather forecast support from the office.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Kern

When
May 16, 4:00 PM PST to May 20, 6:45 AM PST
Where
Kern County, 10 mi N of Taft
Coordinates
35.343, -118.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Wildfire
A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in California in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in California, May 1997

Sources

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: 5608767.