Riley Family Rebuilding After Devastating Fire At Los Rios Rancho

OAK GLEN, CA — Efforts are underway to rebuild an historic apple farm in Oak Glen that caught fire early Friday morning, destroying and/or damaging multiple buildings on the property.

During the four-alarm blaze at Los Rios Rancho, the store barn, kitchen, historic packing barn and other adjacent buildings were lost.

"We don't yet have the words to describe this devastating loss. Fifteen years of family memories and over 100 years of history," a statement on the Los Rios Rancho Facebook page read. "Please keep our family and staff in your prayers as we pick up the pieces and try to rebuild this beloved part of our lives."

Located at 39611 S. Oak Glen Road, Los Rios Rancho is special to families from across the region, and tributes poured out to the Riley family, which has owned and operated the farm in recent years.

Now, a GoFundMe page has been established by a Riley sister-in-law, in the hopes that community contributions can help rebuild. As of Monday afternoon, more than $42,000 had been raised on the page.

"Donations will help this wonderful family-owned and operated business with the immediate requirements to clean up and get their employees back to work and put the pieces back together while they rebuild the Packing Shed," the GoFundMe page reads.

The non-injury fire was reported at approximately 2:15 a.m. Friday and remains under investigation, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

The Riley family gave an account of what happened.

"Devon and Shelli Riley woke up to pounding on their door," the family said on the Los Rios website. "A neighbor's frightened voice was on the other side screaming, 'FIRE, Los Rios is on Fire!' Being that the Riley home sits 1/2 a mile from the Los Rios property, Devon quickly rushed out of bed and headed to another threatening blaze in the glen. Shelli and the rest of the family quickly followed. In the 2-minute drive from his house to the ranch, Devon arrived to see the majority of buildings engulfed in flame; Los Rios was burning down."

The account continued, "Our family watched as the happy memories that were once housed in Los Rios' historic walls burnt before them. The sun greeted us with smoke and ash, as the realization of the morning's events began to sink in. ..."

The Los Rios Rancho packing shed, which was completely lost, had been a working apple shed since 1906 and over the years was host to weddings, family holiday events, and apple season u-picking.

Rather than wallow, the family said apple season is here and they want to move forward. "There are apples ready to pick — and with over 100 employees, Los Rios does not want to close for the season."

According to the family, any donations will help with immediate clean-up requirements, get employees back to work, and rebuild the historic packing shed. The family is also looking for volunteers who can help with this season's bumper crop. For more information, click here.