At least four people have died in California’s biggest fire of the year, local authorities said Tuesday, warning the death toll could rise further. The fire, nicknamed “McKinney,” has been raging since Friday and was still out of control Tuesday. It extends over 22,700 hectares and threatens the small town of Yreka in particular.
“We have four confirmed deaths, and that number could change,” a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office in Siskiyou County, where a state of emergency has been declared, told AFP.
3,000 people affected by evacuation orders
On Sunday morning, the bodies of two deceased people were discovered in a charred vehicle. On Monday, two additional victims were found at two separate residences, according to a tweet from the sheriff’s office. At least 3,000 people are affected by evacuation orders around the town of Klamath River, near the border with the state of Oregon.
“Our goal today is to effectively communicate with people and ask them to obey evacuation orders,” the spokesman said. “Our priority is to protect human lives and property.”
“When we left, everything was on fire,” said the Los Angeles Times one resident, Sherri Marchetti-Perrault. “It happened so fast. We left with just our clothes on. We couldn’t breathe or see anything.”
Since Sunday night, firefighters have benefited from a short break offered by better weather conditions, with lower temperatures and scattered showers.
Storms that could fuel the fires
But optimism remained cautious, as an alert from the meteorological services for the threat of lightning remained active. After a pause until Tuesday afternoon, more thunderstorms are expected, they said.
“The vegetation in the area is extremely dry and the continued threat of thunderstorms and associated strong and unpredictable winds could cause the fire to resume,” the California Fire Department warned.
Bulldozers were placed to protect buildings near the town of Yreka (about 8,000 inhabitants). Despite the danger, some neighbors preferred to wait until the last moment before leaving.
Fires exacerbated by global warming
“I am holding on, and trying not to leave too early because I am helping my mother, who is not in good physical health, to move around,” Rafael Franco, a resident who received a mandatory evacuation order, told AFP. .
“If at the last minute I see fire coming across the ridge where we are then we’ll grab what we can and leave, and move on hoping for the best,” he adds.
Marjie Lawrence, who rushed out of Klamath River on Friday night, said she later returned home to collect her personal belongings. “We took things in case the house burned down, things we wanted, but not enough,” she explained.
Fire season in California, a state in persistent drought, is expected to last several months. The frequency and strength of these fires are exacerbated by global warming.
Source: BFM TV
