Update: Nearly fully contained - Neuralia Fire in Kern County at 98%

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Updated: 1:38 p.m. May 16

First discovered: 3 days ago, 5 p.m. May 13

Initial location: Neuralia Avenue & Anne Avenue City, Kern County, Calif.

Fire unit: Kern County Fire Department and Bureau of Land Management

Fire type: Wildfire

Fire name: Neuralia Fire

Neuralia Fire initially started 5 p.m. May 13 at Neuralia Avenue & Anne Avenue City in Kern County, California.

Since its discovery three days ago, it has burned 1,196 acres. By Saturday afternoon, the fire crew effectively contained 98% of this fire. The blaze's cause remains under investigation.

Fire containment

What does it mean for a fire to be 98% contained?

The percentage indicates how much of the fire perimeter has been surrounded by a control line. In this case, it means that 98% of the wildfire is halted from spreading, while 2% is still uncontrolled.

Containment is part of a larger plan for managing a wildfire. It is normally expressed as a percentage and it refers to how much of the fire perimeter has been surrounded/enclosed by a control line that firefighters create. The containment percentage indicates a certain level of control, but it doesn't always correlate to safety level. Also, it's important to note that containment doesn't mean a fire is out.

How is containment measured?

The incident's central command constantly receives progress reports from firefighters on the ground. As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage. The percentage tells the public how much of the fire perimeter is believed to not go beyond the control lines.

Source: Cal Fire

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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 9:02 AM.