Firefighters in the Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico are among firefighters across the West battling the McKinney wildfire in Northern California. [InciWeb photo]
Warm, dry weather could fuel fire growth
The McKinney wildfire near Yreka in northern California grew by more than 1,000 acres from Wednesday to Thursday, but rain and the efforts of firefighters have so far kept the blaze from becoming a fast-moving megafire. over 100,000 acres.
The fire advanced 1,149 acres to reach 58,668 as of Thursday morning. It was 10% contained, fire officials said.
First reported on July 29, the fire grew by tens of thousands of acres before settling into the 50,000-acre range on Sunday.
But fire officials are predicting more active fire behavior and difficult conditions as the weather changes over the next few days.
After storms dropped 1 to 3 inches of rain on parts of the fire Tuesday, the National Weather Service is forecasting mostly sunny weather for nearly a week, except for partly cloudy weather Friday night. High temperatures will be in the 90s.
Heavy rain fell on the eastern side of the fire earlier this week, and the western half received no measurable rainfall. The fire has been more active on the west side. As the east side dries out, fire activity will pick up again there, fire officials said.
Helicopters and air tankers were used to support firefighters on the ground as they battled to contain the fire’s spread on the western flanks. The planes dropped more than 50,000 gallons of retardant, fire officials said.
Progress on fire line construction has been slow but steady along the edges of the fire. Difficult terrain and heavy fuels have been a challenge. However, bulldozer lines have been completed in several areas surrounding the fire. The fire remains on the banks of the Klamath River east of Horse Creek along Highway 96, fire officials said Thursday morning.
More than 100 buildings, from sheds to houses, have been burned, and at least four people have died.
Several evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect. For current updates on evacuations, visit www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff or www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountyOES.
A shelter has been set up at the Weed Community Center, 161 E. Lincoln Ave., in Weed, California. Highway 96 remains closed through the fire area.
A US Forest Service closure order is in effect until at least August 30 for a 110-mile segment of the Pacific Crest Trail from the summit of Etna to Mount Ashland.
Contact Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or valdous@rosebudmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous.
