McKinney Fire: Two Found Dead Inside Burned Vehicle Along Highway 96
The McKinney Fire continues to grow at a rapid pace in Siskiyou County, forcing mandatory evacuations of more than 2,000 people. On Sunday, the first fatalities were reported in the fire with two people found dead in a car along Highway 96.
Siskiyou County Sheriff confirmed that the people found deceased were in a vehicle located in a residential driveway along Doggett Creek Road, west of the community of Klamath River. Identities of the individuals are pending positive identification and notifications to next-of-kin.
The fire erupted in the Klamath National Forest on Friday and has since ripped through more than 52,000 acres, quickly becoming California’s largest fire. It remains at zero containment as of Monday morning, but smoke and overcast skies slowed the growth on Sunday evening.
Videos online show the intense evacuations of residents on Friday night as the flames ripped through the rural community near the Oregon border. They show the dangers for residents stuck near the flames:
You can find the evacuation map here. We will continue to provide updates on the McKinney Fire as more information is made available.
