Wind-whipped Ranch Fire scorches parts of Southern California

USA Today

3 days ago

Wind-whipped Ranch Fire scorches parts of Southern California Evacuation orders were in place after the Ranch Fire rapidly spread to over 4,200 acres near Apple Valley, California.
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Firefighters battle Ranch Fire near Apple Valley
A firefighting helicopter scoops up water from Hesperia Lake in Hesperia while battling the Ranch Fire near Apple Valley on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
A fast-moving brush fire ignited in Southern California and quickly grew to more than 4,200 acres, forcing evacuations in San Bernardino County.
The blaze, dubbed the Ranch Fire, was first reported about 1:35 p.m. on June 10 just south of Apple Valley, about 90 miles outside of Los Angeles, according to Apple Valley Fire Department records.
It scorched between 80 and 100 acres within an hour, burning at a "rapid" pace as it was driven by wind, according to Cal Fire. By 3 p.m., it was mapped at 369 acres, and by 9:30 p.m. it had grown beyond 4,205 acres. No containment lines had been established early the morning of June 11.
Cal Fire announced at 3:25 p.m. that the flames were presenting an "immediate structure threat."
"Fire behavior has intensified due to shifting weather conditions, including increasing winds and low humidity, contributing to rapid fire spread," according to a Cal Fire incident report.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department issued an evacuation order for an area south of Highway 18, affecting both Apple Valley, which has a population of about 75,000, and neighboring Lucerne Valley with its population of about 5,000.
"Please evacuate safely and immediately," the agency urged via social media.
Frank and Madeline Franklyn parked their truck and horse trailer at a gas station as the couple grabbed fuel, drinks, snacks and ice the evening of June 10.
"We're taking our horses to a friend's house in Apple Valley," Madeline Franklin told the Victorville Daily Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, as a near full moon began rising over the mountains near the fire. "We don't think the fire will move close to our house, but the smoke is not a good thing for them or us."
In the darkness, several lines of fire could be seen, including what appeared to be spot fires further east toward Lucerne Valley.
Wind-whipped fire threatens structures
Authorities described multiple structures as being severely threatened by the blaze, but did not confirm any damage as the firefight continued into the evening.
Photos posted to social media by Cal Fire's San Bernardino Unit showed crews battling flames and horses in stables amid the thick smoke settling over the area.
"A Damage Inspection (DINS) Team has been ordered through the Unified Command to evaluate the damage caused by the fire to structures," according to a Cal Fire statement.
An evacuation center for displaced residents was established at Sitting Bull Academy in Apple Valley, sheriff's officials said.
Firefighters from the Apple Valley Fire Department, San Bernardino County Fire Department, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Cal Fire were working together under what officials label "unified command."
Tuesday's hot weather was expected to continue into Wednesday, with a high temperature of 96 degrees predicted in Apple Valley by the National Weather Service.
More: Extreme heat warning issued as above-average temperatures scorch High Desert
Authorities prepare for large animal evacuees
An evacuation center for large animals was in the process of being set up at the Victorville Fairgrounds, according to Cal Fire.
Standing near horse trailers, members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff Phelan Posse 303 were positioned along Bear Valley Road ready to help evacuees. Posse members told the Daily Press they were waiting for sheriff's dispatch to inform them about residents who needed help evacuating large animals.
As the sun set, flames became visible from miles away, as several horse trailers with animals headed out of the evacuation area.
2025 has seen catastrophic California wildfires
The fire in San Bernardino County come months after wildfires raged in Los Angeles County earlier in 2025, decimating homes and killing 30 people. Eighteen people died in the Eaton Fire, which tore through Altadena in the San Gabriel Valley, and 12 died in the Palisades Fire in the affluent Pacific Palisades, authorities said. The fires stretched through most of the month of January.
According to AccuWeather, 2025 could see more land scorched across the United States than the historical average. About 7 million acres are burned in a typical year, but AccuWeather predicted in April that up to 9 million acres could be charred by the year's end.
Hundreds of wildfires burned this spring across the South, including in the Carolinas, fueled by debris left from the destruction of last year's Hurricane Helene.
See where the Ranch Fire is burning
Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY