Spared from last August’s wildfires, Los Rios Rancho destroyed by overnight fire
OK GLEN, Calif. — Recently spared from both the El Dorado and Apple fires, two major wildfires that burned right up to their property line in August, Riley’s Farm and several historic buildings at the Los Rios Rancho property burned to the ground in a massive, 4-Alarm blaze overnight.
Although the valiant efforts of firefighters saved the property last month, by the time they responded to last night’s blaze much of the property and many of its buildings were already fully engulfed in flames that soared high into the night sky.
LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:
UPDATE: One dead after Murrieta pursuit-related crash that seriously injured officer
Murdered at suspected marijuana grow house, 7 Aguanga shooting victims ID’d
UPDATE: Beaumont murder-suicide investigation continuing – Deceased ID’d
UPDATE: Drunk parolee who killed pregnant women in fiery wreck arrested
Southern California’s largest Apple Farm, which began operation in 1906, Los Rios Rancho was a popular and well-known tourist destination that visiting families used for picnics, enjoying BBQ meals and picnics, and picking their own apples.
The property also served as a home base of operations for firefighters battling last month’s El Dorado Fire; which became a safe place where they could eat and rest while fighting that blaze.
Firefighters who responded to this morning’s blaze at Los Rios Rancho found flames and smoke soaring high into the darkness of the early-morning sky. Fire Department Incidents San Bernardino County photo
Yucaipa and area firefighters were first alerted to last night’s blaze around 2:15 a.m., when “Quinn”, an employee and family member at the location smelled thick smoke and spotted flames billowing from one of the property’s buildings. He then ran door to door, alerting other family members regarding the blaze, according to a social media post from Riley’s Farm this morning.
Responding firefighters found the entire property and many of its structures engulfed in flames, leading to the massive callout that involved multiple fire agencies.
The bakery, ranch store, packing house and the preserve’s ranger shop have been confirmed as destroyed in the blaze. One of the buildings that burned down was the original structure built in 1906.
A firefighter works to douse this morning’s massive, 4-Alarm fire that destroyed much of Los Rios Rancho overnight. 564 Fire photo
“We don’t yet have the words to describe this devastating loss,” Los Rios Rancho wrote in an early-morning update after the devastating fire; adding, “15 years of family memories and over 100 years of history” were destroyed in the blaze.
“Please keep our family and staff in your prayers as we pick up the pieces and try to rebuild this beloved part of our lives,” the update continued.
LEADING THE SCNS NORTH STATE HEADLINES:
Woman who repeatedly rammed big rig during Burney road rage incident arrested
3 dead, 146 buildings destroyed, as Zogg Fire grows by 50% overnight
Employees also said the south side of the ranch that burned to the ground will remain closed until further notice, but the U-pick and Farm Fair will remain open.
No people or animals were harmed in the blaze and fire investigators are still working to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
This article sponsored by:
For more information, contact Bill Tyler at Century 21 Full Realty Service.
Voted Best Independent Sandwich Shop in the Inland Empire by The Press-Enterprise readers choice. Centrally located on N Harvard St in the heart of Downtown Hemet, enjoy over 30 different sandwiches and premium salads. Our coffee is made from locally roasted, Organic Coffee Beans from Idyllwild Coffee Roasters. Come taste the difference that is Downtown Deli & Coffee Company. For more information, visit Downtown Deli & Coffee Co. on Facebook.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.