Lumgrey Fire Grows to 215 Acres Overnight Near Klamath River in Siskiyou County
The Lumgrey Fire, which began at 6 pm on Monday night near Highway 96 in Siskiyou County, doubled in size overnight and now sits at 215 acres with zero reported containment. The fire forced an evacuation warning to residents in the area, but has since been lifted.
The fire was moving fast throughout the night, jumping the Klamath River and heading south towards Yreka. Currently, evacuations are now in place in the area directly near the highway and Klamath River, but nearby residents remain on high alert as hot, dry conditions are forecast for the day.
Lumgrey Fire at dusk. View is looking east from AA05. #LumgreyFire pic.twitter.com/KxOeOrgqcB
— Klamath NF (@Klamath_NF) June 18, 2019
The rugged landscape is not heavily populated, but the U.S. Forest Service indicated that some homes are currently threatened. A previous evacuation order was lifted in the Empire and Dutch Creek areas.
This morning, crews from @Klamath_NF and @CALFIRESKU are still battling the flames of the #LumgreyFire in Klamath River. @JennevieveKTVL will be there today with further updates. KNF says the fuels primarily burning are pine trees, oak trees, scrub brush.https://t.co/DiAA4AIcXf pic.twitter.com/XP8T5PGnjV
— Mike Marut (@MikeMarutKTVL) June 18, 2019
While the fire grew to 65 acres on the south side of the Klamath River on Monday night/Tuesday morning, firefighters have held the flames to 150 acres in the rugged mountains of the north side. Currently, the U.S. Forest Service announced a containment line was set up around a portion of the fire, but no percentage numbers were included.
#LumgreyFire picture.
— Klamath NF (@Klamath_NF) June 18, 2019
Photo credit: Robby Hunter. pic.twitter.com/sqVvPm3lCg
The California Highway Patrol indicated that the fire may have started from chains dragging on the roadway, but no official cause has been announced.
We will continue to update this story as the fire progresses.
