Largest Earthquake In Decades Rocks Southern California; UPDATE: Fire Department Battling Structure Fires, Evacuations In Place

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Southern California on Thursday, the first major earthquake in more than two decades. 

The earthquake struck Ridgecrest, a remote area of Kern County, about 160 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

More than 40 aftershocks have been felt throughout the area and as far as Las Vegas, Nevada.

Kern County Fire sent out multiple tweets saying they're responding to numerous incidents throughout the area.

#EarthquakeResponse @kerncountyfire resources working nearly 2 dozens incidents ranging from medical assistance to structure fires in and around the city of Ridgecrest, CA. @kerncountyfire Urban Search and Rescue teams en route. #kerncountyfirefighters

— Kern County Fire (@kerncountyfire) July 4, 2019

#EarthquakeResponse Update: Update:1 KCFD strike team of type 2 engines enroute, 1 handcrew enroute.
Surveys still continue to inspect critical infrastructure including safety of highway passes through area canyons. #kerncountyfiredepartment

— Kern County Fire (@kerncountyfire) July 4, 2019

#EarthquakeResponse Update: Survey of Hwy 178 through Kern Canyon shows it to be clear. #Kerncountyfiredepartment

— Kern County Fire (@kerncountyfire) July 4, 2019

#EarthquakeResponse Update. We can confirm evacuations are underway @ Ridgecrest Regional Hospital. #kerncountyfiredepartment

— Kern County Fire (@kerncountyfire) July 4, 2019

#EarthquakeResponse According to Ridgecrest Police Department the Kerr McGee Center has been opened as a temporary cooling center. Address is 100 W. California Ave Ridgecrest, CA.

— Kern County Fire (@kerncountyfire) July 4, 2019

#EarthquakeResponse #RidgecrestEarthquake Per Ridgecrest Police Department a cooling center has been opened at Burroughs High School located at 500 French Ave Ridgecrest, CA @kerncountyfire

— Kern County Fire (@kerncountyfire) July 4, 2019

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Here's one of the structure fires: 

Fire officials say they are working nearly two dozen incidents in and around the city of Ridgecrest, California, following today's earthquake. Follow live updates: https://t.co/kBq8FSj3aF pic.twitter.com/4TxBkdeDeR

— CNN (@CNN) July 4, 2019

President Trump said he's been briefed on the situation.

Been fully briefed on earthquake in Southern California. All seems to be very much under control!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2019

Seismologist Lucy Jones told the Los Angeles Times it's possible that even more, bigger earthquakes are possible. The good news, however, is this earthquake took place far enough from the San Andres faults “that any impact on the system will be minimal.”

“This does not make [the Big One] less likely. There is about a 1 in 20 chance that this location will be having an even bigger earthquake in the next few days, that we have not yet seen the biggest earthquake of the sequence,” Jones said.

The last major earthquake that rocked Southern California took place in 1999 with the Hector Mine quake, which was a magnitude 7.1

This is a breaking news story and has been updated with additional information.