One Dead and 81 Structures Destroyed: Vicious Klamathon Fire Continues to Rip Through Northern California
With dry and windy conditions forecasted in the coming days, it's now a crucial time to try to contain the fast-moving flames.
Northern California’s vicious Klamathon Fire, located in and around the town of Hornbrook in Siskiyou County near the Oregon border, continues to wreak havoc on the community, growing to 37,000 acres with 30 percent containment. The fire has destroyed 81 structures, injured three people and killed one.
With dry and windy conditions forecasted in the coming days, it’s now a crucial time to try to contain the fast-moving flames.
#Klamathonfire 7.9.18 morning video update for Hmong citizens. @swofire @SiskiyouSheriff @JCSO_Oregon pic.twitter.com/vPsYLbK6ax
— CAL FIRE SKU (@CALFIRESKU) July 9, 2018
Firefighters remain vigilante fighting the unrelenting flames, with one firefighter receiving severe facial burns during the battle. Firefighter Brandon Feller received the facial burns when his engine burned over while fighting the flames. He was recently released from the UC Davis ICU Burn Center and is “in good spirits.” A GoFundMe campaign was set up to help Feller during his recovery.
Late last week, a charred corpse was found in the remains of a burned house, becoming the first fire fatality in California this fire season. Governor Jerry Brown declared a State of Emergency on Friday, allowing for more resources to be sent to the workers on the front lines.
The area is also home to many large, domestic animals, which has caused local authorities to act fast:
Some important information regarding large animals from Siskiyou County Animal Control for the affected citizens of the #Klamathonfire. @swofire @SiskiyouSheriff @JCSO_Oregon pic.twitter.com/Rt4HDjaQK3
— CAL FIRE SKU (@CALFIRESKU) July 9, 2018
The fire has now crossed over the Oregon border, and has even burned through areas of the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument. There are now 2,716 fire personnel working in the area, hoping to establish containment lines before the wind picks up.
800 structures are still threatened by the fire and over 1,500 residents have evactuated their homes. Here is an update on current conditions from CalFire:
| Moderate fire behavior is expected for this morning and this afternoon. The Klamath River Country Estates continue to be threatened. The West and North flank will continue to have short range spotting in the timber stands when strong ridge top winds surface in the afternoons; this continues to threaten the communities of Hilt, Colestin and Jackson County, OR. The southern flank should hold North of the Klamath River and in the town of Hornbrook. Completed line on the east flank will mitigate the threat to Iron Gate Reservoir Estates. Fire activity will be isolated to the West and Northern flanks. These flanks are in timber and in upper elevations. The communities of Hilt and Colestin along with the Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area, Klamath Forest, Soda Mountain Wilderness and Cascade Siskiyou National Monument will be threatened. |
Stay up to date with the Klamathon Fire here.
