By FireRescue1 Staff
RIDGECREST, CA — A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Southern California and parts of Nevada on Thursday, with dozens of aftershocks rattling the region throughout the morning and afternoon.
According to the Los Angeles Times, there have been no immediate reports of deaths or serious injuries as a result of the quake.
The Kern County Fire Department shared on social media that it was “working nearly 2 dozen incidents ranging from medical assistance to structure fires in and around the city of Ridgecrest.”
Kern County Fire reported that a strike team of Type 2 engines and one handcrew were en route to the area, as surveys were being conducted to inspect critical infrastructure, including highway overpasses. The department also shared news of evacuations of a local hospital and cooling centers being set up for residents.
https://twitter.com/kerncountyfire/status/1146849591100264448
The 10:33 a.m. earthquake was centered near the city of Ridgecrest in Kern County, approximately 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The quake was felt as far away as Long Beach, California, and Las Vegas.
The Los Angeles Fire Department shared on social media that all 106 fire stations completed surveys of their districts and found no signs of significant damage.
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Service (Cal OES) tweeted that emergency operations centers are being activated in response to the earthquake.
https://twitter.com/Cal_OES/status/1146849309305925632
The Los Angeles Times also reported that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is dispatching geologists to Kern County look for a surface rupture and gather other data.
In a press conference at the Caltech Seismology Laboratory in Pasadena, California, Caltech seismologist Lucy Jones warned residents to expect more aftershocks throughout the day.