Lightning a new threat as California fire crews battle out-of-control blaze
Crews battling the largest wildfire so far this year in California braced for thunderstorms and hot, windy conditions that created the potential for additional fire growth as they sought to protect remote communities.
The Mckinney Fire was burning out of control in Northern California’s Klamath National Forest, with expected thunderstorms a big concern just south of the Oregon state line, said United States Forest Service spokesperson Adrienne Freeman.
“The fuel beds are so dry and they can just erupt from that lightning,” Freeman said. “These thunder cells come with gusty erratic winds that can blow fire in every direction.”
The blaze exploded in size to more than 207 sq km just two days after erupting in a largely unpopulated area of Siskiyou County. The cause was under investigation.
The blaze torched trees along California Highway 96. Thick smoke covered the area and flames burned through hillsides in sight of homes. A second, smaller fire just to the west that was sparked by dry lightning on Sunday threatened the tiny town of Seiad, Freeman said. About 400 structures were under threat from the two California fires.
A third fire, which was on the southwest end of the Mckinney blaze, prompted evacuation orders for around 500 homes yesterday.
As the Mckinney fire threatened, some residents chose to stay behind while others heeded orders to leave.
Larry Castle and his wife, Nancy, were among about 2000 residents of the Yreka area under evacuation orders. They left with some of their prized possessions. Larry Castle said he wasn’t taking any chances after seeing the explosive growth of major fires in recent years. “You look back at the Paradise fire and the Santa Rosa fire and you realise this stuff is very, very serious.”
In northwest Montana, a fire sparked in grasslands near the town of Elmo had grown to about 44 sq km after advancing into forest.
In Idaho, the Moose Fire in the Salmon-challis National Forest has burned on more than 196 sq km near the town of Salmon.
Scientists say climate change has made the West warmer and drier in the past 30 years.