Grand fire near Frazier Park grows to more than 700 acres

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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)

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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)

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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)

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

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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)

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The Grand fire burns along a road in Hungry Valley State Park. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters work to cut a fire line in Hungry Valley State Park to halt the progress of the Grand fire. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

By Ruben Vives

May 15, 2013 3:40 PM PT

A fast-moving wildfire burned through more than 700 acres in the Los Padres National Forest, heading up a hill and away from the Grapevine.

At least one high school near the fire was evacuated, along with the national forest and a nearby campground.

Authorities said no structures are threatened and it appeared to be moving away from the unincorporated town of Frazier Park.

Kern County Fire spokesman Corey Wilford said the fire is being pushed southeast and is “wind-dominated.”

Los Angeles County fire officials said the wind is at 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. Humidity is 28%.

Falcon Way, which leads to the high school, has been shut down, Wilford said. Although the fire appeared to be heading away from the Grapevine, California Highway Patrol officials had units at the scene and said the blaze had the potential of reaching Interstate 5.

The fire was reported around 1:20 p.m.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. KERO-TV Channel 23 in Bakersfield cited reports that a telephone pole caught fire and sparked the blaze.

Several agencies including Los Angeles County Fire Department are assisting Kern County, Wilford said.

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Twitter: @latvives

ruben.vives@latimes.com