Smoke from the Apple Fire is seen behind a stars and stripes
painted building in the community of Calimesa on August 2, 2020
near Cherry Valley, California. David McNew/Getty
Images/AFP
More than 2,200 firefighters were battling a blaze that
was burning out of control Monday in southern California,
threatening thousands of people and homes east of Los
Angeles.
The Apple Fire, which broke out Friday near the city of San
Bernardino, has so far burnt more than 20,000 acres (8,000
hectares), sending up columns of smoke visible for miles.
Record low moisture in the vegetation, low humidity and high
temperatures are fuelling the blaze, the United States Forest
Service said.
At least 2,600 homes and nearly 7,800 people were evacuated.
Officials said it was not clear when they might be able to
return.
By early Monday about 2,260 firefighters backed by helicopters,
water-dumping planes and trucks were working to put out the
fire.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
the scene of the Water fire, a new start about 20 miles from the
Apple fire in Whitewater, California on August 2, 2020. JOSH
EDELSON / AFP
Crews managed to contain five percent of the fire by Monday,
after losing control of the blaze during Sunday afternoon.
There were no reports of casualties, and the only damage so far
has been to two buildings and one home.
The edges of the fire are burning on rugged hills hard for crews
to reach, authorities said.
Dense vegetation fueled the blaze near homes, said Fernando
Herrera, fire chief in Riverside County, while hot and dry
conditions Monday will help the flames keep alive.
Officials said the fire may have been set deliberately and a
probe is underway.
AFP