500 homes evacuated in Kern County

(AP) – Authorities have called for the evacuation of some 500 homes in Southern California because of a smoky wildfire.

The Kern County Sheriff’s office said late Saturday night that the evacuation order was for parts of the Wofford Heights area, which is about 30 miles northeast of Bakersfield.

The department says in an email release that the growth of the so-called Shirley Fire was prompting the measure.

Fire officials say that the blaze had grown to 810 acres by late Saturday night and was just 5 percent contained.

The blaze is most active about one miles south of Wofford Heights.

The officials warned that smoke could cause respiratory problems for some people in the area.

There as no immediate word on when the fire started or what sparked it.