The vast wildfire raging in the mountains east of Los Angeles, the first major fire in Southern California this year that has prompted the evacuation of about 8,000 people and 2,586 homes, started from a malfunctioning vehicle, according to fire officials on Monday.
In Riverside County, the fires have ravaged approximately 26,000 acres of dry brush and timber since it started Friday evening, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported.
About 2,500 homes in mountain, canyon, and foothills neighborhoods were given evacuation orders and advisories. Hiking trails and camping grounds in San Gorgonio Wilderness area of San Bernardino National Forest were closed as officials allowed the flames from the Apple Fire to move up to Mount San Gorgonio area. Officials said it was not safe for crews to work in a 3,350-meter steep peak.
California fire officials reported one home, and two outbuildings were destroyed, but there are no reported injuries so far.
The smoke plume was visible for several m and caused poor air quality.
READ: Brazil Records Big Increase in Amazon Forest Fires
CHERRY VALLEY, CA - AUGUST 01: Flames and heavy smoke approach on a western front of the Apple Fire, consuming brush and forest at a high rate of speed during an excessive heat warning on August 1, 2020, in Cherry Valley, California. The fire began shortly before 5 p.m. the previous evening, threatening a large number of homes overnight and forcing thousands to flee before exploding to 12,000 acres this afternoon, mostly climbing the steep wilderness slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains.
Sparked by Malfunctioning Diesel Vehicle
Fire officials on Monday said that the fire was sparked by a malfunctioning diesel vehicle. The vehicle emitted burning carbon from its exhaust system, starting several fires Friday along Oak Glen Road in Cherry Valley.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection urge anyone who may have seen such a vehicle to contact investigators.
Social Distancing Measures in Evacuation Centers
Only five percent of the fires were contained on Monday morning. Adding to the evacuees' stress are the rules against coronavirus in the evacuation centers, American Red Cross John Medina said. Volunteers had to adjust their approach with evacuees at this time that social distancing is required.
Medina said that volunteers used to have ''close contact'' with evacuees to show warmth, love, and care as part of the recovery process during a disaster. In this time of pandemic where social distancing is required, it is difficult to do that when one is six feet away, he added.
But according to Bill Boehm, the pandemic has not stopped people from coming together to help each other. Boehm helped his mother evacuate her home with three horses.
"Everyone seemed to be wearing masks and such, so that type of precaution was still going on," Boehm said.
According to Captain Fernando Herrera of Cal Fire, "Folks not taking advantage of it over concerns about COVID-19, we have measures in place. We planned for these months ahead."
READ ALSO: A River of Black Sludge With Debris Flooding Through Arizona
CHERRY VALLEY, CA - AUGUST 01: A helicopter drops water on the Apple Fire as an excessive heat warning continues on August 1, 2020, in Cherry Valley, California. The fire began shortly before 5 p.m. the previous evening, threatening a large number of homes overnight and forcing thousands to flee before exploding to 12,000 acres this afternoon, mostly climbing the steep wilderness slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains.
Hundreds of Homes Saved
Firefighters rescued over a hundred homes this weekend as the California fire department stationed engines in every neighborhood as over 1,300 firefighters stood guard.
Firefighters also had to make an air attack to contain the fires from consuming the communities below but pushed it towards the San Bernardino National Forest.
Joanne Erbe, a resident, said that "the firefighters did a fabulous job keeping everything under control they were on it right away."
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the state got a FEMA grant to pay for the continuing firefighting efforts.
Approximately 8,000 people have been evacuated since Friday.
READ NEXT: AI Predicts Wildfires by Mapping Dryness of Forests