Apple Fire Grows; Still At 30% Containment; More Smoke Heads To The Desert

The Apple Fire has now charred 29,267 acres, or more than 45 and a half square miles in the San Bernardino National Forest.

Firefighters have kept the fire away from Oak Glen on the western flank of the fire.

The fire is moving northeast, creating smoke and threatening Morongo Valley and Pioneertown.

The fire is expected to make slow progress until it finds a favorable condition to burn into a new drainage area.

Overall, expect to see occasional periods of high smoke production. Smoke will mostly be in low/hazy concentrations and occasional column building.

In the early morning hours, smoke will travel eastward along the I-10.

On Friday, August 7th, 2020, the smoke direction will be towards Highway 62 corridor and remain in that area until the late evening Friday and early morning hours of Saturday, August 8th, 2020.

The communities of Morongo Valley, Desert Hot Springs, Yucca Valley, and Landers will be the strongest impacted with smoke. Concentrations will be lower in Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms. Some haze may be visible in Big Bear Valley in the afternoon Friday, August 7th.

Due to a change in the wind direction, the wind will carry the smoke further east, compared to the past several days.

Friday’s wind pattern will push the smoke further east than the previous few days.

A Smoke Advisory will be in effect through Friday afternoon August 7th, 2020 due to the Apple Fire burning north of Cherry Valley, the South Coast Air Quality Management District announced.

The advisory could extend into Saturday, August 8th as well.

Weather conditions will bring smoke and ash into portions of the Coachella Valley, the San Gorgonio Pass, Eastern Riverside County, and the eastern San Bernardino Mountains, according to an AQMD statement.

The air quality will be unhealthy for sensitive groups in the San Bernardino Mountains and wherever smoke from the Apple fire shows up.

The AQMD  urges anyone who smells smoke or sees ash to limit exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed or to seek alternate shelter, and avoid vigorous physical activity.

 

Photo from US Forest Service and CalFire