Los Rios Rancho apple farm in Oak Glen partially reopens after fire
By Orange County on October 3, 2020
Many activities are continuing at the Los Rios Rancho apple farm in Oak Glen, even after a fire early Friday laid waste to much of the property.
The bakery, ranch store, packing house and Oak Glen Preserve’s ranger shop were destroyed, breaking the hearts of the latest generation of visitors who head uphill to pick apples, buy cider and pies and participate in family activities.
Los Rios Rancho said in a Facebook post on Saturday, Oct. 3, that it has opened its orchards on the north side of the property across from the main parking lot for apple picking, horse-drawn wagon rides, a petting zoo and a satellite kitchen that is serving tri-tip sandwiches.
Debris from the early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Burnt apples next to what is left after early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Sound
The gallery will resume inseconds
An investigator looks over a charred truck Thursday, Nov. 30, that crashed near the ignition point of the Oak fire along Oak Glen Road. Photo by Beatriz E. Valenzuela, Staff
A firefighter hoses down hot spots in the aftermath of an early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A worker looks over debris from the early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Firefighters are silhouetted as they cool off after battling the early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Debris from the early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Debris from the early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A firefighter hoses down hot spots in the aftermath of an early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A firefighter hoses down hot spots in the aftermath of an early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A firefighters recover hoses after battling an early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The hills above Los Rios Rancho are still charred from the Apple and El Dorado fires as the the aftermath of an early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Firefighters recover hoses after battling an early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Firefighter hose down hot spots in the aftermath of an early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Debris from the early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A firefighter sits in the outside dining area after battling the four alarm fire area which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Many of the antique carriages were burned in the early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Volunteer Jerry Hoover removes debris after an early morning four alarm fire destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Devon Riley looks over the damage from an early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the bakery, ranch store, and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A firefighter hoses down hot spots in the aftermath of an early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Devon Riley talks with media after an early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the bakery, ranch store, and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Firefighters hose down hot spots in the aftermath of an early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Riley’s Farm employees remove the BBQ from the aftermath of an early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Volunteer Jerry Hoover, center remove debris after an early morning four alarm fire destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Devon Riley looks over the damage from an early morning four-alarm fire that destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Los Rios Rancho in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A firefighter walks through the aftermath of an early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Firefighter hose down hot spots in the aftermath of an early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Many of the antique carriages were burned in the early morning four alarm fire which destroyed the cafe, bakery, ranch store, BBQ and packing house at Riley’s Farms Los Rios Rancho property in Oak Glen on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Several buildings at the Los Rios Rancho apple farm in Oak Glen burned early Friday, Oct. 2. The main building was a total loss, according to a post on the Riley’s Farm Facebook page. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Fire investigators sift through what is left of the buildings at the Los Rios Rancho apple farm in Oak Glen after a four-alarm fire there Friday, Oct. 2. The main building was a total loss, according to a post on the Riley’s Farm Facebook page. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Several buildings at the Los Rios Ranch apple farm in Oak Glen burned early Friday, Oct. 2. The main building was a total loss, according to a post on the Riley’s Farm Facebook page. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The Los Rios Rancho apple farm in Oak Glen burns on Oct. 2, 2020. (Courtesy of Community LEO Watch)
The farm, near Yucaipa below the San Bernardino Mountains, is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
“We’re making the most of an ugly circumstance and would love to still be a part of your fall tradition. Please continue to pray for our family and crew as the reality of such a loss sinks in,” the post said.
Tina Skousen, a relative of Los Rios Rancho proprietors Devon and Shelly Riley, established a GoFundMe page on their behalf. Skousen noted that the packing house had been operating since 1906.
The cause of the fire had not been announced as of Saturday.
Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit Capt. Bennet Milloy, the lead investigator on the fire, said Saturday that investigators believe that the fire started behind the kitchen area. Investigators are no longer at the farm examining the ruins, he said.
Firefighters had to extinguish the flames by shuttling water to the site with fire engines as the nearest hydrant is a couple of miles away, Milloy said.
“The water supply issue was a major contributing factor to the spread of the fire,” Milloy said.
He added that none of the apple farms in the area have hydrants nearby.
Milloy said he is among those who have for years trekked to Los Rios Rancho, which he described as iconic. The fire, he said, was a tragedy.
Be First to Comment