California wildfire: Two dead and thousands evacuated as blaze spreads

California’s largest fire so far this year has killed two people as it rages out of control south of the Oregon border.

The McKinney fire in Siskiyou County has expanded to 55,493 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, as firefighters face soaring temperatures and a weather phenomenon known as dry lightning that may help the blaze spread.

The two victims were found in a car off Highway 96, according to a statement from the Siskiyou County Sheriff. Parts of that road have been closed and areas around the fire have been evacuated.

The McKinney blaze started on Friday and has quickly expanded, more than doubling the total number of acres consumed by fire across California this year. It has surpassed the Oak Fire near Yosemite National Park as the state’s largest.

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Before this incident, 4,679 fires had burned a total of 53,160 acres in the state, according to Cal Fire. That’s well below the five-year average of 415,274 acres.

High temperatures across Northern California and the Pacific Northwest have led to instability in the atmosphere that can trigger sporadic thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service. However, the air is so dry that in some cases, lightning can occur without rain reaching the ground, potentially igniting grasses, brush and trees left parched by months of drought.

The fast-moving fire has forced 2,000 residents to evacuate and has destroyed homes and critical infrastructure since it broke out on Friday.

Siskiyou County, home to Klamath National Forest, has a population of about 44,000, according to the US Census Bureau.

An emergency declaration made by California governor Gavin Newsom will help residents access federal aid and unlock state resources.

A red flag warning, indicating dangerous fire conditions, was in effect.

Dozens of hikers on the famed Pacific Crest Trail have been located and evacuated as the McKinney fire explodes along the California-Oregon border. According to the Jackson County sheriff’s office, at least 60 hikers were found on the trail in the Klamath National Forest and escorted to safety.

A spokesperson from the sheriff’s office told NewsWatch 12 that although no hikers were in imminent danger, the remote nature of the trail and the quickly changing wildfire conditions made search-and-rescue the best option.

This was the second big wildfire faced by California this season after the Oak Fire near Yosemite National Park. That fire is now 64 per cent contained and has charred more than 19,000 acres.