Vegetation fire closes one lane eastbound on Hwy 58

When firefighters arrived on scene near the eastbound direction of Hwy 58 just east of Hwy 223. Kern County Fire crews arrived on scene after 7pm Wednesday evening, they say they found a semi-truck consumed in flames, and a vegetation fire spreading towards homes in the Hart Flat community. Firefighters then worked to put out the vehicle on fire and the coordination of air and ground crews stopped the forward progress of the vegetation fire approximately one hour later. The driver of the vehicle was unharmed and no one else was injured. Meanwhile. Fire crews will work throughout the night, trying to fully contain the 16-acre fire to ensure that no flames were burning in the bushes. Till crews clear the side of the road, one of the lanes on the eastbound direction of Hwy 58 will be closed, and officials expect that to be in effect till the early hours of Thursday morning.