Los Padres National Forest brush fire grows to 3,500 acres

Members of the Bureau of Land Management’s Kern Valley Hotshots board a helicopter at Chuchupate Ranger Station in Los Padres National Forest to be dropped high on top of mountains to fight the Grand fire. Firefighters continued battling the 3,500-acre brush fire in Kern County on Thursday morning. The fire started about 1 p.m. Wednesday near Frazier Park, and burned near the border with Los Angeles County. The fire was about 15% contained Thursday morning, officials said. The Los Angeles County Fire Department has sent about 180 personnel to assist in the firefighting effort, along with a helicopter, two bulldozers and two water tanker trucks. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

May 15, 2013 8:15 PM PT

A brush fire raging out of control in Los Padres National Forest had grown to at least 3,500 acres, officials said. The Grand fire started in Kern County near the Grapevine. See full story

Fire retardant is dropped as firefighters continue battling a 3,500-acre brush fire in Kern County. Air quality officials issued a smoke advisory for Los Angeles County areas. “All individuals are urged to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in any area directly impacted by smoke,” the South Coast Air Quality Management District said in a statement. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Grand fire sends up a large plume of smoke as it burns more than 3,000 acres of brush and light grass near Frazier Park on Wednesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Firefighters work to contain the Grand fire as it burns along a road in Hungry Valley State Park. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

A crew of firefighters is enveloped in smoke in Hungry Valley State Park as the Grand fire burns more than 3,000 acres near Frazier Park. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)