Topline
The McKinney fire that sparked in northern California late last week has spread to more than 50,000 acres and grown into the state’s largest wildfire so far this year, as climate change makes the blazes more commonplace and more intense.
Angela Crawford leans against a fence as a wildfire called the McKinney fire burns a hillside above … [+]
Key Facts
The fire spread to 51,468 acres on Sunday morning, according to Cal Fire, just days after it first began raging on Friday in rural Siskiyou County, California, located on the state’s border with Oregon.
That makes it the largest wildfire recorded in California so far this year and more than double than the second-largest, the Oak Fire, the blaze that began earlier this month and threatened Yosemite National Park’s famous groves of sequoia trees.
No portions of the McKinney fire had been contained early Sunday morning, according to Cal Fire, and thousands of people in surrounding communities have been ordered to evacuate.
Authorities rescued around 60 people hiking on nearby portions of the Pacific Crest Trail, one of the country’s most popular backpacking routes.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) declared a state of emergency Saturday in Siskiyou County due to the McKinney fire and two smaller wildfires, a move that could give the state more flexibility to respond to the blazes.
Key Background
The fire spread quickly because of heavy winds from thunderstorms over the weekend and the region’s drought conditions. The cause of the initial blaze is still unknown. The McKinney fire is the latest to plague California this summer, following the Oak, the Washburn and the Electra fires that have forced thousands of evacuations and burnt tens of thousands of acres in northern California. Studies show that wildfires in California have worsened over the years as summer heatwaves become more intense because of climate change.
Further Reading
Here’s How California Is Protecting Yosemite’s Famous Sequoia Trees From Wildfires (Forbes)
Thousands Flee Electra California Wildfire–Here’s What We Know So Far. (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2022/07/31/californias-largest-wildfire-this-year-surpasses-50000-acres/