California is going through its worst forest fire on record so far this year, with more than 51,000 Acres burned and an increase in evacuations caused by the McKinney Fire.
The bodies Rescue crews battling the wildfire in Northern California were bracing for thunderstorms and hot and windy conditions that raised the possibility of additional fire growth Sunday.
McKinney Fire was out control in the Klamath National Forest in northern California. Expected thunderstorms were a major concern Sunday south of the Oregon state line, US Forest Service spokeswoman Adrienne Freeman said.
“The fuel beds are very dry and can explode from that lightning,” Freeman said. “These thunder cells come with erratic and gusty winds that can throw fire in all directions.”
The fire started with a spread of 80 square miles just two days after breaking out in a largely unpopulated area in Siskiyou County.
The flames then swept through trees along the highway 51 of California. Dense smoke blanketed the area and flames burned through the hillsides in sight of homes.
Another fire started just to the west on Saturday, and was sparked by a dry lightning strike in the small city of Seiad. Approximately 400 structures were threatened by the two fires.
Meanwhile, a third fire raged on the southwestern edge of the McKinney Fire, prompting evacuation orders for some 500 homes this Sunday, as reported by Courtney Kreider, a spokeswoman for the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office.
Crews had been at the scene of the fire since Saturday night , but the fire on Sunday morning “activated and escaped its containment line,” according to the office.
For his part, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared the Saturday the state of emergency due to the increase in the intensity of the McKinney fire. The measure will give Newsom more flexibility in making decisions regarding emergency response and recovery efforts and accessing federal aid.
California authorities have contacted the cities of Yreka and Fort Jones asking residents to leave and evacuate their livestock safely in trailers. Robocalls were also sent on landlines because there were areas without cell phone service.
With information from Fox News / The Associated Press