“Firefighters continued Saturday to battle the Apple Fire, a wildfire that began a day earlier as two smaller fires that merged and has since destroyed three structures, prompted thousands to evacuate about 2,600 residences and scorched 12,000 acres in Cherry Valley” Desert Sun reports.
“About 7,800 people have been ordered to leave their homes as of Saturday, as 375 firefighters with five air tankers, four helicopters and three bulldozers continued to fight to control the wildfire, which had grown to nearly 19 miles, authorities said. No injuries have been reported. The Apple Fire began shortly before 5 p.m. Friday as “at least” two fires burning near each other in the 9000 block of Oak Glen Road in the unincorporated community of Cherry Valley, a few miles north of Beaumont, Cal Fire said. Since its start, the fire’s progress has been pretty much unchecked. Despite a full day of aerial attacks, the fire was 0% contained by late Saturday.”