Apple Fire In Cherry Valley: Latest On Evacuations, Size, Spread

UPDATED 11:12 P.M. MONDAY

BANNING, CA — Authorities on Monday said they had determined what sparked the Apple Fire, which has burned at least 26,850 acres in Riverside and San Bernardino counties and continues to rage with just 7 percent containment as of Monday night.

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.

The new information appeared to rule out the possibility of arson, which had been suspected earlier amid unconfirmed reports of a man seen igniting fires on Friday.

Meanwhile, more than 7,800 people remain under evacuation orders, as fire crews worked through the weekend in triple-digit heat to contain the blaze.

Fire officials said a single-family home and two outbuildings were destroyed near Avenida Miravilla, adding to the destruction of a few cars, a structure and a boat reported Friday night. Dozens more remained threatened Monday.

The fire is moving to the north and east, and has charred more than 31 square miles of dry brush and timber, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

Evacuation orders in effect

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.

#AppleFire Update

The fire is now 26,450 acres and remains at 5% containment.

The fire continues to move north and east and there were multiple spot fires overnight on north side.

We remain in unified command w/ @CALFIRERRU, @RSO, @SBCOUNTYFIRE, @sbcountysheriff, @CHP_HQ. pic.twitter.com/czzbft1ZLO
— San Bernardino National Forest (@SanBernardinoNF) August 3, 2020

Residfents north of Wilson Street, east of Sunset Avenue and west of Hathaway Street in Banning, were ordered to evacuate at 2:15 p.m. Saturday as flames crept toward the neighborhood, according to the Riverside County Emergency Management Department. At 7 p.m. Saturday, residents were put on notice they should be prepared to evacuate with little notice from the area north of Morongo Road east of Millard Canyon Road, west of Whitewater Canyon Road.

Also under evacuation orders since Friday were residents in the Banning Bench area and those north of Cherry Valley Boulevard between Beaumont and Highland Springs avenues, the Riverside County Fire Department said.

Officials said they do not have a time frame for repopulating evacuated areas.

Related: 15 Photos That Show Devastation Of CA's Apple Fire

A hard road closure was in place along North Sunset Avenue at Wilson Street and North San Gorgonio Avenue at Summit Drive, according to the Banning Police Department.

Northbound Oak Glen Road from Orchard Avenue and northbound Bellflower Avenue at Cherry Valley Boulevard were also shut down.

A temporary evacuation center was established at Beaumont High School, 39139 Cherry Valley Blvd., with anyone going there subject to COVID-19 testing before being allowed in, fire department spokesman Fernando Herrera said.

The American Red Cross was assisting evacuees by putting them up in hotels.

Federal authorities take over

Over the weekend, fire officials allowed the fire to run up the side of Mount San Gorgonio, deciding it was unsafe to let crews work on the steep, rugged terrain, Lisa Cox, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service, told the Press-Enterprise.

Management of the fire was taken over by a federal team Sunday morning as the blaze spread onto federal land. The federal government is also providing funds to help state, local and tribal authorities fight the fire.

Information from the Associated Press and City News Service was used in this report.

Related coverage:

• 15 Photos That Show Devastation Of CA's Apple Fire
  
• Federal Aid Secured As Apple Fire Stretches To 26,000 Acres