A wildfire burning in the hills near Rosamond has reportedly destroyed several homes.

Kern County Fire Department officials have not confirmed the reports. But evacuees say friends and family that stayed home report seeing numerous houses burnt to the ground.

An official with Kern County Fire says roughly 6,000 acres of grassy hills have been burned and voluntary evacuations are taking place in Oak Creek Canyon. A temporary shelter is being set up at the Days Inn in Mojave. That is located at 16100 Sierra Highway.The Red Cross is now in the area helping with evacuations. As of 12:30 p.m. Monday no one was taking advantage of the evacuation center at the Days Inn.

More than four hundred firefighters are currently fighting the flames, and that number is expected to rise Monday as crews try to keep the fire from spreading to structures. Winds gusting at 30 miles per hour are hampering firefighters efforts to get the blaze under control. The fire is 0 per cent contained, and no cause has been determined.

Eyewitness News will keep you posted on the fire with updates at noon, 5 & 6.
Pictures of the wildfire shown on Eyewitness News are courtesy of Diana Palmer.