Bakersfield, United States - November 09, 2024 A dramatic scene unfolded on November 9 morning when Kern County firefighters were called to combat a formidable warehouse fire at the intersection of Washington Street and East Brundage Lane. At 9:46 a.m., as the community watched, a towering column of black smoke signaled the urgency of the situation. Firefighters arrived to find two 10,000 square foot warehouses completely consumed by fire. The inferno had created two dense smoke columns that eventually joined into one, piercing the calm of the morning sky. To contain the blaze and protect adjacent structures, a second alarm was quickly initiated. Firefighters from both Kern County and Bakersfield Fire Departments deployed ladder trucks, their aerial streams cutting through the heat to douse the flames with massive amounts of water. Despite the warehouses being packed with plastic irrigation materials, which contributed to the thick smoke, the containment efforts have been successful in limiting the fire's spread. The firefighters' strategy capitalized on the heat-induced upward smoke movement, which has minimized community exposure. Weather conditions have cooperated, with little wind to drive the smoke further. Local residents should anticipate road closures as the firefighting effort includes laying down extensive water lines. The firefighting operation, expected to last well into the night, will see crews working tirelessly to suppress the fire and ensure no reignition occurs.