US

California Wildfire Explodes To More Than 20,000 Acres In 3 Days, Forcing Thousands To Evacuate

REUTERS/Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department/File Photo

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Font Size:

California’s Apple fire spread to 26,450 acres Monday, Public Information Officer Daron Wyatt of the California  Interagency Incident Management Team told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Altogether, 2,296 personnel are responding to the fire, which is at 5% containment, Wyatt told the DCNF. California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Peace Officers found “a vehicle malfunction” caused the fire, according to a CAL FIRE and Riverside County Fire Department press release.

One firefighter is believed to be injured, Public Information Officer Zach Behrens at the San Berardino National Forest told the DCNF.

The U.S. Forest Service noted the fire began in Cherry Valley, California, according to CNN. The fire started Friday before 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time and an estimated 7,800 people have evacuated, the Riverside County Fire Department said, according to another CNN report. (Related: 1700 Firefighters, National Guardsmen Battle Northern California Wildfire That Has Already Claimed Two Lives)

Orders to evacuate were given to people living north of Banning and Beaumont in Riverside County, CNN reported.

The evacuation centers at local hotels and Beaumont high school will enforce coronavirus proceedings, including mask wearing, social distancing and temperature screenings at entrances, Public Safety Information Specialist Rob Roseen for the CAL Fire and Riverside County Fire Department said, according to CNN.

This post has been updated to include: California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Peace Officers found “a vehicle malfunction” caused the fire, according to a CAL FIRE and Riverside County Fire Department press release.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.