INLAND EMPIRE, CA — At least one home was destroyed and multiple others were in danger after a wildfire broke out in the Inland Empire Tuesday afternoon in San Bernardino County.
As of Wednesday at 6 p.m., Cal Fire/San Bernardino County Fire reports they’ve reached 25% containment on the blaze that reached 4,205 acres in size, a Cal Fire spokesperson said.
The blaze, known as the Ranch Fire, was still burning through brush southeast of Victorville and Apple Valley, and due east of Hesperia, Wednesday morning.
Evacuation orders are in place from Milpas Drive to High Road, south of Highway 18 near Apple Valley, according to the Cal Fire evacuation map. Shelters for people, pets and large animals/livestock remain open as firefighters battle to get the upper hand on the fast-moving wildfire.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, according to Cal Fire.
Overnight into Wednesday morning, favorable winds and an increase in humidity allowed firefighters to gain ground on the Ranch Fire, according to incident command.
Air support was slated to continue much of Wednesday, they said.
“Weather (Wednesday) will feature low humidity (around 15%) and increasing southerly winds, with gusts up to 32 mph this afternoon—conditions that may challenge containment efforts,” they said. “Poor to moderate overnight recovery is expected, with similar weather continuing into Thursday. Crews will focus on strengthening containment lines, protecting structures, and continuing mop-up efforts throughout the day.”
Potential for more evacuations, possible:
Residents near the fire area were asked to remain prepared for potential evacuations. All were advised to keep their phones fully charged and emergency kits at the ready.
“Avoid the area and do not fly drones, as they interfere with firefighting aircraft,” they said.
Evacuation Information:
People and small pets were being accepted at the Sitting Bull Academy in Apple Valley. At the same time, large animals and livestock were being taken in at the Victorville Fairgrounds, according to emergency coordinators in San Bernardino County
The San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services has established a website dedicated to the Ranch Fire with important information and valuable resources:
Ranch Fire – Preparedness Starts Here.