The Apple fire that started in Cherry Valley and caused the evacuations that displaced thousands before it raced into the ridges and canyons of the San Bernardino National Forest was caused by burning carbon from the exhaust system of a diesel-fueled vehicle, investigators said Monday, Aug. 3.
Hot particles from the exhaust ignited brush in perhaps three spots along Oak Glen Road.
“The determination is reinforced by multiple independent witnesses as well as supporting physical evidence,” said Cal Fire, whose officers investigated the origin of the fire that started late Friday afternoon.
There was no description of the vehicle available, Cal Fire/Riverside County spokesman Capt. Fernando Herrera said.
Rumors of arson spread shortly after the fires started along Oak Glen Road at Apple Tree Lane, with some reporting a fleeing person.
But on Monday, Cal Fire investigators said it was a vehicle malfunction. They asked for anyone driving in the 9000 block of Oak Glen Road in Cherry Valley at the time the fires started, and who may have seen a vehicle that appeared to have mechanical problems or unusual smoke coming from it, to contact them on an anonymous hotline, 800-633-2836.
“Diesel vehicles shoot out that black soot,” Herrera said. “When that is shooting out, it does form some small particles, they can be from a pebble size, even up to a quarter size. And as those are emitted through the exhaust they are extremely hot, so when they land on any type of dry fuel, it will ignite.
“In this case, that’s what they found,” he said of the investigators. The three fires joined and became the Apple fire, he said.
The fire had consumed 26,450 acres by Monday afternoon and was at 5% containment. Monday night it was measured at 26,850 acres with 7% containment — with fresh firefighting crews arriving to relieve those who have battled the blaze since Friday afternoon.
MAP: This map shows where the Apple Fire is burning
Cal Fire said the Apple fire forced the evacuation of an estimated 2,586 homes in several communities, affecting 7,800 people.
One injury has been reported. During a community meeting in Banning on Monday night, officials said a Forest Service firefighter sustained a minor burn when hot gas vapor escaped a chain saw he had been using.
One home and two outbuildings have reportedly burned, but damage assessment teams are making a survey. Riverside County health officials warned about unhealthy air in the fire area, and a state-operated COVID-19 testing site was moved due to the fire.
More resources have been added to the fire to supplement local agencies that were the first to respond, Lisa Cox, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service, said Monday.
“We have a lot more resources coming in from outside the county — Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Napa Valley and all these other areas,” she said, recounting the crews she saw arriving Monday at the Noble Creek Park command center in Beaumont.
Almost 2,300 firefighting personnel from several agencies were at the scene Monday.
“They are going to come in and relieve those firefighters that are really tired, so they can get some R&R,” she said.
With fires in Arizona and elsewhere in California, staffing is stretched, but not short, she said.
Fire commanders are dealing with a new system for ordering personnel and equipment, and that caused some issues that brought a mention from fire commanders Sunday night that some calls for resources — personnel and equipment — were either not filled or not at the scene yet.
That notation was gone from the fire log Monday afternoon.
“The limiting factor isn’t so much the staff, it’s the terrain — we can’t even put firefighters where we want to put them,” Cox said.
Scott Gaynor, 54, who lives with his wife, 12-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter in the Banning Bench area, said Monday afternoon he and his family chose to stay “home safe,” with everything in their cars and ready to go, if evacuation became absolutely necessary.
He said firefighters cut a line with bulldozers in the early morning dark Saturday to spare homes in his Bluff Street neighborhood. “They did a great job.” He was out with a water hose at the same time, spraying down his property.
“I didn’t sleep at all Friday night into Saturday,” he said. “I didn’t sleep until Saturday evening, because we were just on edge. Saturday evening, about midnight, we are able to rest and know that it was far enough away from us that we were able to get some sleep.”
He said his home at the 3,500-foot elevation overlooks the San Gorgonio River. He has views of Mt. San Gorgonio and Mt. San Jacinto, on the other side of the San Gorgonio Pass. “No street lights — at night there’s nothing but millions of stars,” he said of the property he moved to 25 years ago and calls “God’s country.”
Of the cause of the fire announced Monday, he said, “I’d rather it be that, than some kids starting a fire… I’d rather it be an accident than on purpose, that’s for sure.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said late Sunday the state secured a fire-management assistance grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help cover costs for fighting the Apple fire.
The grant amount was not immediately available.
Flames have burned through dry vegetation, and high temperatures and low humidity remain in the region. Much of the area in flames is inaccessible by ground.
Weather conditions were expected to remain much the same Monday, albeit with temperatures a bit cooler and humidity a little better. Westerly winds are expected to gust between 20 mph and 30 mph into the evening.
High temperatures of 90 to 98 degrees were forecast for the San Bernardino Mountains below 6,000 feet, the National Weather Service said. A fire map indicates the blaze is burning in the lower elevations of the forest area.
Evacuation orders, voluntary evacuation advisories, and warnings in the fire areas of Riverside and San Bernardino counties remained in effect Monday. Sunday, the San Bernardino County Sheriff warned residents of Pioneertown and Rimrock they may be told to evacuate, but emphasized the message was only a warning.
The U.S. Forest Service explained the evacuation orders remained in place because spot fires can happen with a change of wind direction and speed, and for the safety of firefighters and heavy equipment working in the area.
We know folks are anxious to get back into their homes, but #Applefire evacuation orders are remaining in place for safety reasons because:
• Spot fires can occur with a change in wind direction/speed.
• Ensure firefighters/heavy equipment working in the area are safe too. pic.twitter.com/IcBbrLLAez— San Bernardino National Forest (@SanBernardinoNF) August 3, 2020
The San Gorgonio Wilderness remained closed Monday, along with the Pacific Crest Trail between the San Bernardino National Forest boundary and Forest Road 1N01.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory through Monday night for the Coachella Valley, San Gorgonio Pass and Hemet-San Jacinto Valley due to the fire.
Riverside County said residents exposed to smoke and ash should avoid strenuous activity, remain indoors with the air-conditioning on, and keep windows and doors closed, and use a clean filtering system to prevent smoke from getting inside, said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer.
The reception and care site for evacuees at Beaumont High School has been arranged to protect users from smoke and also from coronavirus with screening, physical distancing, sanitation stations and other measures, said Bruce Barton, director of the County of Riverside Emergency Management Department.
The Apple fire also caused a move for the state-operated COVID-19 testing site in Beaumont, from the Noble Creek Community Center to the Beaumont Woman’s Club at 306 E. 6th Street. Those with appointments have been notified.
