Local Firefighters Battling Massive Apple Fire

Image courtesy Pasadena Fire Dept.

Pasadena fire fighters have been deployed to help fight a blaze in Riverside County.

The Apple Fire has charred 20,516 acres and destroyed at least one home, according to Cal Fire.

According to Interim Fire Chief Bryan Frieders, strike team 1203A which includes Pasadena fire engines 34 and 36, Battalion 3 and Deputy 3, along with engines from Burbank and Glendale are battling the blaze.

Pasadena has already been backfilled and city fire protection is fully operational, according to Frieders.

As of Sunday morning no fires were burning in Pasadena according to Pasadena Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian.

“We’ve increased fire patrols in our high hazard brush areas and have staffed appropriately if needed for a fire knowing several crews have been assigned to the Apple Fire,” Derderian said.

According to media reports, the Apple Fire began when two possible arson fires converged into one at about 5:45 p.m. on Friday north of Beaumont in Riverside County.

A third possible arson fire was also reported in the area and had blackened 60 to 80 acres by 7 p.m. on Saturday, according to reports from the scene. Firefighters sent to the location encountered the three blazes coalescing in a drainage with heavy vegetation.

Thousands of people were evacuated by Sunday morning.

The fire is at 0 percent containment according to CalFire and more than 7,000 people have been evacuated.

Several neighborhoods in San Bernardino County were also under evacuation orders.

According to the Desert Sun, witnesses saw a man igniting the blazes and called 911 in Cherry Valley near Oak Glen Road and Apple Tree Lane.

No injuries have been reported.

Air tankers and water-dropping helicopters resumed making runs on the wildfire Sunday morning.

Fire fighters from Orange County and Anaheim Fire and Rescue firefighters, personnel from the Calimesa, Morongo, Murrieta, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Huntington Beach, Hemet, Pechanga, San Bernardino and Soboba fire departments were also deployed.