Fire activity decreased overnight, and containment of the Apple Fire has grown to 45%. Fire activity has slowed enough that fewer resources are needed as crews push towards containment. While the efforts may not be visible from far away, firefighters continue to work to keep the fire in established control lines. In the north, crews are securing the perimeter by building fireline and carefully inspecting the area for any hotspots. In some areas, specialized crews will be using suppression strategies with the least environmental impacts in the wilderness. On the Apple Fire, one strategy in the San Gorgonio Wilderness is to take advantage of natural barriers, like rocky outcrops, for control lines.
Along the western perimeter, focus has shifted from structural protection to backhaul, the process of pulling excess supplies from the fireline. Equipment will be cleaned and repaired—ready for the next incident. Crews will work on chipping brush to reduce fuel load. Firefighters will also focus on repairing impacts to the landscape from fire suppression efforts. Patrol and mop up efforts continue to the south and east.
With increased winds forecasted today, all crews will be vigilant for hotspots and sources of spotting across the fire’s edge. As crews and equipment demobilize, these resources become available to respond to future incidents.
There have been three injuries attributed to the Apple Fire and four homes were destroyed.
Resources in the fight as of Monday morning include 2,229 personnel with:
40 Hand Crews
164 Engines
17 Dozers
20 Helicopters
2 Fixed wing aircraft
33 Water Tenders
