McKinney and China 2 Fire Update for July 31, 2022

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Map of the McKinney Fire as of 11:00 AM July 31, 2022. (Fire Mappers)

FIRE DETAILS

Cause:
Under investigation

Size:
51,468 Acres

Containment: 1%

Location:
Siskiyou County, California
West of Yreka, California
GPS 41.819, -122.885

Incident Command:
Unified Command - CALFIRE & US Forest Service

Fuels:
Timber, tall grass, brush

Significant events:
Extreme, short crown runs, uphill runs, spotting

Last Updated:
12:00 PM, 07/31/2022

YREKA, Calif. - Activity on both fires moderated into the evening as a heavy smoke inversion settled over the fire. The fire became active again at about midnight. Crews were actively engaged in structure protection overnight, especially in the Klamath River area. Little progression was observed on the fire’s edge closest to Yreka City.

Priorities for today are to continue structure preparation and protection in the Highway 96 corridor, and around the communities of Fort Jones and Yreka City. Firefighters continue direct suppression tactics when safe to do so and are looking at opportunities to build contingency lines should they become necessary. Containment lines from previous fires are being reopened even as firefighters work on the active edge of the fire.

EVACUATIONS

Updated Evacuations for Yreka
● Zones - SIS-3511, YRE-3624 A & B, YRE-3621 A & B, YRE-3618-A, YRE-3615 A & B and YRE-3612-A are now Evacuation Orders.
● Zones - YRE-3514, YRE-3627, YRE-3633, YRE-3630, YRE-3618-B, YRE-3636 and YRE-3612-B and YRE-3612-C are now Evacuation Warnings Evac map - http://community.zonehaven.com

Multiple Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect. For current updates on evacuations, visit the Facebook pages of the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office and Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services. Additional evacuation information and map can be found on the Zonehaven website. A shelter has been established at the Weed Community Center, 161 E Lincoln Ave., Weed, CA 96094.

Highway 96 remains closed through the fire area.

WEATHER

The area remains in a Red Flag Warning today for a threat of dry lightning and strong outflow winds associated with thunder cells. These conditions can be extremely dangerous for firefighters, as winds can be erratic and extremely strong, causing fire to spread in any direction.

New lightning fires are still being detected, including one overnight at the top of Doggett Creek north of the main fire. Crews will be assessing and addressing these fires as they are detected.

Persistent drought conditions have caused extremely dry, receptive fuels which have resulted in rapid fire spread.

OUTLOOK

Planned Actions

Continue with point protection. Scout indirect line locations where resources can be effective.

Implement direct and indirect tactics as resources arrive and are engaged. Contingency planning for areas further west and east as perimeter continues to spread.

Projected Incident Activity

  • 12 hours:

    • Point protection of values at risk operations continue along the Highway 96 corridor, Beaver

    • Creek community, and smaller communities from Hwy 5 to Horse Creek and Scott Bar. Scouting

    • opportunities for indirect/direct line construction as fire moves in all directions. Fire has

    • progressed to Collins Badly lookout in the south and is backing towards Scott Bar, and

    • Deadwood Baldy Peak on the east flank. Fire will continue to move west towards Horse Creek

    • and north into the 2014 Beaver Fire scar towards Round Mountain. Area under Fire Weather Watch for abundant lightning and thunderstorm development.

  • 24 hours:

    • Point protection operations continue along the Highway 96 corridor, Beaver Creek community.

    • Implement opportunities for indirect/direct line construction as fire moves in all directions. Fire has progressed to Collins Badly lookout in the south, and Deadwood Baldy Peak on the

    • east flank. Fire will continue to move west towards Horse Creek and north into the 2014 Beaver Fire scar towards Round Mountain. Spotting, slope runs and Fire Weather Watch for lightning and thunderstorms outflow winds causing high ROS.

  • 48 hours:

    • Fire growth is expected to spread in all directions as Red Flag Warning for thunderstorms and

    • lightning are in the forecast. Fire could impact Gottville, Humbug Road area on the east flank. Movement towards Scott Bar is expected as the fire moves off of Collins Baldy to the southwest. Northern spread by spotting, strong outflow winds in the Beaver Fire scar.

MAPS

Regional map including the China 2 and McKinney Fires. As of 11:00 AM, July 31, 2022 (Fire Mappers)

Infrared Mapping of the McKinney Fire has mapped the fire at 51,468 acres.

Additional Resources

Official Fire Information

Phone: 530-289-8920
Email: 2022.mckinney@firenet.gov
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8287/

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