Apple Fire 15% Contained; Evacuations, Air Quality Issues Remain

BANNING, CA – The Apple Fire is now 15 percent contained after charring 26,850 acres and injuring one person, officials announced Tuesday. As of Tuesday morning, 12 buildings have been destroyed.

Officials said the fire continued to spread north across the head of the Mill Creek Canyon and east into the San Gorgonio Wilderness on Tuesday. As the fire heads into the wilderness where vegetation is becoming sparse, it limits the intensity of the fire, according to officials.

Overnight, firefighters constructed a fireline ono the southwest corner of the perimeter, officials said in an update posted to Facebook Tuesday morning, which increased the percentage of containment.

"Infrared surveys are indicating that there are several pockets of heat in the area of Pine Bench (west side), Banning Canyon (south side) and Millard Canyon (east side)," officials said. "Hand crews were able to work the areas of Pine Bench and Millard Canyon but due to the danger of falling trees they did not engage in the Banning Pass."

On Tuesday, in addition to continue structure protection and perimeter control, officials said firefighters will scout the San Gorgonio wilderness to develop a control plan to address the spread of the fire to the northeast.

Officials from the Apple Fire Unified Command gave an update on progress battling the 26,000-acre fire at 6 p.m. Monday evening from Banning,

Newly-appointed Riverside County Fire Chief Bill Wiser said it's been a cooperative fire fight, with many units from across the state as well as from out of state battling the fire.

Monday afternoon, officials determined the fire was caused by a malfunction in a diesel fuel vehicle, which caused it to emit burning carbon from its exhaust system, Cal Fire said Monday afternoon. Cal Fire said they are seeking witnesses who were driving on Oak Glen Road after 4:55 p.m. Friday, when multiple spot fires broke out.

One firefighter was injured, officials said Monday night, when his chainsaw malfunctioned due to hot temperatures. The firefighter suffered a flash burn to his wrist and elbow and was taken to a hospital for treatment before being released back to active duty.

Evacuations

Evacuation orders remained in place Monday in both Riverside and San Bernardino counties, with an interactive map showing the latest evacuation zones. An emergency closure order was put in place Sunday prohibiting all entry into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area, including the Pacific Crest Hiking Trail between the Forest Boundary and Forest Road 1N01.

An evacuation center has been opened at Beaumont High School, 39139 Cherry Valley Boulevard. Evacuated animals are also being accepted at the high school.

Residents could possibly be allowed back into their homes on Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on weather conditions and containment progress.

"We know this is hard on everyone," officials said. "When it's safe, I promise you that we will open up the area so you guys can get back into your homes."

Officials said the decision to allow residents back into their homes begins with evaluating the threat to the homes and structures, monitoring potential spot fires that can happen with a change in wind direction and speed, ensuring firefighters and heavy equipment are safe, then officials work with law enforcement to control access in allowing residents back into their homes in order to minimize the risk of looting.

For Riverside County Residents: please visit https://www.rivcoready.org/ActiveEvents for an interactive map that will allow you to enter your address to see if you are in an evacuation area.

For San Bernardino County Residents: The community of Oak Glen is under an evacuation order. Forest Falls, Pioneertown, and Rim Rock are all under an evacuation warning.

Resident concerns

Several residents attended Monday evening's briefing with concerns about their properties. Among those were whether residents should remove equipment and vehicle from their barns and whether they should shut off their water.

For residents who are on a municipal water system, officials said it may be helpful to turn off the water system. However, for residents in more rural areas, officials said it may assist fire crews to leave the water system on.

In response to resident concerns over potential power outages, officials said Monday evening power company Southern California Edison has issued a Power Safety Power Shutoff notice, warning residents that there is a possibility that they may temporarily shut off power to neighborhood to prevent the electric system from becoming a source of ignition for the fire.

Banning city manager Doug Shulze said an Edison power shut off does not impact the city. If officials determine a power shut off is necessary, Shulze said the city will notify residents via the Nixle platform.

"We do not have any public safety power shutoffs planned at the moment," he said.

Fire management

Chief Mike Mitten, Incident Commander for California Incident Management Team 2, assumed command of the fire Sunday morning. The Incident Management Team is made up of federal land management agencies and well as state and local departments, with nearly 60 people performing logistics and support for firefighters, coordinating air operations, coordinating public information and conducting administrative functions.

More than 2,500 firefighters are assigned to the fire and Mitten said that number is likely to rise until the fire containment increases.

Monday evening, the South Coast Air Quality Management District extended its smoke advisory through Tuesday afternoon due to the Apple Fire. Meteorological conditions may bring smokeand ash from the so-called Apple Fire into portions of the San Gorgonio Pass,the eastern San Bernardino Mountains, the Coachella Valley and EasternRiverside County, according to the AQMD

City News Service contributed information to this report.

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