Declared a state of emergency in California due to a large fire that is devastating the Klamath National Forest.
The fire, named McKinney, started last Friday and due to high temperatures and strong winds it went from just over 1 square mile (1 square kilometer) to 62 square miles (160 square kilometers), in an area by rural part near the Oregon state line, according to firefighters.
The McKinney fire, currently considered the largest fire of the year in California, forced 2,000 residents to evacuate and destroyed homes and important infrastructure, as well as burning between 30,000 and 40,000 acres of forest.
Wildlife was seen fleeing the area to avoid the flames.
"It is continuing to spread with irregular winds and thunderstorms in the area," said Caroline Quintanilla, a spokesperson for Klamath National Forest.
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday, noting the intensification of the fire, declared a state of emergency.
The proclamation allows Newsom greater flexibility to make emergency response decisions and should allow access to federal aid.
More than two decades of drought and rising temperatures, exacerbated by climate change, have made California more vulnerable than ever to wildfires.
Based on the number of acres burned, the two most devastating years on record were 2020 and 2021.
Meanwhile, in Montana, the fire in Elmo has nearly tripled in size to more than 11 square miles (about 28 square kilometers), the flames just a few miles from the town of Elmo.
About 200 miles (320 kilometers) further south, Idaho residents are under evacuation orders because the Salmon-Challis Forest National Moose Fire charred more than 67.5 square miles (174.8 square kilometers) in wooded land. near the town of Salmon.
Ap
California fire 07/31/22