WeatherFire Watch

Actions

Wildfire spurs evacuations in remote Owens Valley

airport fire bishop ca.jfif
Posted

BISHOP, Calif. (AP) — Evacuations have been ordered after a wildfire broke out near a remote California airport and spread swiftly through dry brush.

Named the "Aiport" fire, the spread of the flames as of posting is 2,800 acres and 0% contained.

The blaze erupted Wednesday afternoon near Eastern Sierra Regional Airport just outside the town of Bishop in the Owens Valley.

Cal Fire says winds around 20 miles an hour drove the flames south through the valley toward the town of Big Pine.

The Owens Valley Radio Observatory and the White Mountain Research Center are among the structures threatened.

The cause of the fire isn't immediately known.