California Fires: Santa Monica Fire Sends Team Members To Help

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica Fire Department is assisting in the fight against several California fires, including the Apple Fire, Red Salmon Complex Fire, Stagecoach Fire.

Several other local agencies have sent fire officials to help battle flames across the state. Santa Monica has sent several fire personnel to help in recovery efforts, officials told Patch Monday.

The rate of spread for the nearly 33,000-acre Apple Fire burning in the San Bernardino National Forest contained to slow overnight, with containment now at 45 percent, officials said Monday. All mandatory evacuations have been lifted in connection with the fire, which has charred 32,905 acres since being sparked July 31 by a diesel vehicle malfunction, although a non-mandatory evacuation warning remains in effect in Morongo Valley in San Bernardino County.

But with winds set to pick up Monday, firefighters remained watchful for any renewed flare-ups along the perimeter of the fire, which has destroyed four homes and eight outbuildings and resulted in injuries to three firefighters. An estimated 2,600 residences and 7,800 people were evacuated at the height of the blaze.

As progress continues on fire containment lines, resources that are no longer needed will be released over the next several days, fire officials said.

Strike teams of engines that were utilized on the southern and western flanks will be reduced in number, but enough will remain to ensure adequate coverage. As of Monday morning, 2,295 fire personnel remained on scene, aided by 20 helicopters and two airplanes.

Fire officials expect to contain the Apple Fire by Aug. 17.

The Red Salmon Complex Fire was discovered on July 27 near Trinity Alps Wilderness on the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forests. It is reportedly now 30 percent contained and 5,977 acres.

The Stagecoach Fire in Havilah and the Piute Mountainous area has burned 7,760 acres. Containment increased to 64%, the Kern County Fire Department reported Sunday.

SMFD has one Logistics Specialist deployed to the #AppleFire assisting alongside several other agencies. #SantaMonica https://t.co/iF31EW5cmS
— Santa Monica Fire (@SantaMonicaFire) August 10, 2020

SMFD has two Rapid Extraction Module (REM) Support Team members deployed alongside several other agencies at the #RedSalmonComplex Fire in the ##ShastaTrinityNF. #SantaMonica https://t.co/k5RuVMLGgT
— Santa Monica Fire (@SantaMonicaFire) August 10, 2020

SMFD has one Incident Commander deployed at the #StagecoachFire providing assistance alongside several other agencies. #SantaMonica https://t.co/sWV0GE1pmH
— Santa Monica Fire (@SantaMonicaFire) August 10, 2020

- City News Service and Patch Editor Nicole Charky contributed to this report.

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