According to the U.S. Forest Service, the Apple Fire (formerly called the Cherry Fire) has burned more than 20,500 acres with 5% containment as of about 8 p.m. Sunday.
The fire is burning in Riverside County, about midway between Beaumont and the San Bernardino County line.
Much of the northern and eastern edge of the fire is in steep, rugged hillsides, which are not accessible to firefighting vehicles. Firefighters will continue to work to slow the spread of the fire using all resources available, including helicopters, fixed wing air tankers, ground equipment and hand-crews.
Close to 2,600 homes are under mandatory evacuation orders. That's estimated to displace around 7,800 people.
Beaumont High School is serving as a temporary evacuation center, where pandemic safety precautions are in place. The Red Cross is also providing hotel rooms for evacuees.
A look at the terrain in front of the fire and where it's heading. Snow Peak (#firecam) is right in the middle of the 3rd image. #AppleFire #CherryValley @CALFIRERRU @SanBernardinoNF pic.twitter.com/n7pkK7VSbP
— Dave "Be Prepared" Toussaint (@engineco16) August 2, 2020
View of the Apple fire from the h.s. in Beaumont, where the Am Red Cross has set up a covid-era evacuation center. pic.twitter.com/5wJIIcIJSf
— Josie Huang (@josie_huang) August 2, 2020
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- Apple fire incident information fact sheet (Riverside County Fire and Cal Fire)
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