Deadly Kern County fire now 45,000 acres, 40 percent contained

LAKE ISABELLA, Calif. (KGO) -- Firefighters are making slow but steady progress battling the deadly Erskine Fire in Kern County. It began Thursday near Lake Isabella and has been driven by tinder-dry brush and low humidity.

The destructive power of the Erskine Fire in Kern County is captured in this image by photojournalist Michael Cuffe.

Michael Cuffe/@mikecuffe

Over 45,000 acres have burned so far and flames are 40 percent contained.

An elderly couple died in the flames.

So far, 250 structures have been destroyed and 75 are damaged.

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Nearly 2,100 personnel are on the front lines.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.