Single Publication

Location: Siskiyou County, CA
 
Size: 60,389 acres  
 
Percent Contained: 80 % 
 
Cause: Under Investigation  
 
Vegetation: Timber (Litter and Understory), Tall Grass, and Brush  
 
Number of Personnel Assigned: 2,459  
 
Start Date: Friday July 29, 2022 at 2:15pm  

The McKinney Fire has reached 80% containment thanks to all of the hard work by fire personnel. Mop-up continues and is a crucial and tedious operation. Firefighters sift through ash and soot in search of hot spots or areas of concern until they reach bare mineral soil. Using water in this procedure ensures that ash pits are cooled off, giving the fireline more security and reducing residual smoke. Pack it in, pack it out- crews hike out every inch of hose brought in, even if the hose had been burned over, to help restore the landscape back to its natural state. To reduce scarring of the landscape crews work to repair contingency lines built using bulldozers. Contingency lines were built to protect the fire from entering surrounding communities should the original firelines have failed in the initial stages of the fire.  
 

A new start was called in at approximately 1:00pm on Thursday afternoon in the Scott Bar area on an east facing slope. This fire began at about ¼ acre and grew to 14 acres. Klamath National Forest and CAL FIRE initial attack crews, along with aerial support from the McKinney Fire, were dispatched to the George Fire immediately and worked to put in line and hose around the entire fire's perimeter. There was no forward progression on the George Fire overnight and it is officially 100% contained at this time.  
 

The potential for new starts is still high as weather predictions forecast dry and hot conditions. Priorities for today focus on ensuring the George Fire remains contained and that lines remain secure on the McKinney Fire.  
 

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low 90s in lower elevations and in the 70-80s range in higher elevations. Winds from the west and northwest are expected to bring occasional gusts but less concerning than previous days. Relative humidity stays in the 13-20% range.  
 

LOCAL ASSISSTANCE CENTER: A Local Assistance Center (LAC) will be opening at the College of the Siskiyous Rural Health Sciences Institute in Yreka to serve residents impacted by the McKinney Fire. The LAC is a one-stop-shop for recovery assistance. The address is 2001 Campus Drive Yreka, CA. The times of operation are Wednesday August 17, 9 am to 7 pm and Thursday August 18, 9 am to 7 pm. 
 

EVACUATIONS: Multiple evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect. For current updates on evacuations, visit https://www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff and https://www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountyOES  

Additional evacuation information and a map can be found on the Zonehaven site at: https://community.zonehaven.com/
  

A shelter has been established at Karuk Wellness Center at 1403 Kahtishraam, Yreka, CA, 96097. Traffic on Highway 96 is limited with piloted traffic between Beaver Creek to Kohl Creek through the fire area.  
 

CURRENT FOREST ORDERS: Fire restrictions are in effect on the Klamath National Forest. For more information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices/ An emergency area is now in effect for the McKinney, Yeti, and Alex Fires. Please refer to the links below for specific details:  
 

Closure Info: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1047211.pdf 

Closure Map: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1047212.pdf  

Pacific Crest Trail Information: https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/closures