Parshka Kanish Singh
(Reuters) – The fast-moving McKinney Fire in northern California has prompted the evacuation of 2,000 residents and destroyed homes and infrastructure since it broke out on Friday.
McKinney, which is spreading near the border with Oregon, is already the largest fire California has seen so far this year. It ravaged more than 20,600 hectares and was no longer contained at all on Sunday, according to the latest data provided by the authorities.
More than 20 years of drought and rising temperatures, exacerbated by climate change, have made California more vulnerable than ever to wildfires. The two most devastating years were recorded in 2020 and 2021, based on the number of hectares burned.
Siskiyou County, the scene of the fire where the Klamath National Forest is located, has a population of about 44,000, according to the United States Census Bureau.
An emergency declaration by California Governor Gavin Newsom allows residents to access federal aid and unlocks state resources.
A red alert, indicating dangerous fire conditions, is in progress. No deaths or injuries were reported.
(Written by Lisa Shumaker, French version Benjamin Mallet)