Apocalyptic scenes as at least two people are dead in McKinney fire – California's largest this year

The McKinney blaze – the largest wildfire recorded this year in California – has turned fatal as the inferno exploded in size and emblazed its way through Klamath National Forest.

Rescuers have found lost animals – including a tiny kitten with singed whiskers and a terrified puppy with its fur charred from the fire – amid the destruction caused by the devastating fire. 

Two people were found dead in their car on their driveway in the town of Klamath River, California, amid the apocalyptic scenes as thousands of homes were evacuated, Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue confirmed. 

It’s believed that the two people who tragically died on Doggett Creek Road were attempting to flee the fast-moving flames ripping through the state’s dry terrain.

The threatening McKinney blaze, which is now engulfing 80 squared miles of dry tinderbox wildland in the area, has been spurred on by gusty winds and lightening strikes. 

Firefighters are working tirelessly to put out the unpredictable blaze, which began on Friday afternoon – but it is currently zero per cent contained, according to Cal Fire.

Over 100 structures, including homes, have burned to the ground across 52,498 acres in just over 60 hours since the McKinney fire started. 

A kitten with singed whiskers that survived the McKinney Fire hides in rocks in the Klamath National Forest northwest of Yreka, California

A kitten with singed whiskers that survived the McKinney Fire hides in rocks in the Klamath National Forest northwest of Yreka, California

The roaring inferno threatening wildlife and homes in California has now become fatal - after two people were found dead in a car in their driveway

The roaring inferno threatening wildlife and homes in California has now become fatal – after two people were found dead in a car in their driveway

A photographer came to the aid of a puppy - who had charred fur - wandering through the ruins of the area, as it was standing over a home that had been destroyed by the fire

A photographer came to the aid of a puppy – who had charred fur – wandering through the ruins of the area, as it was standing over a home that had been destroyed by the fire

The puppy wandered over to the man after surviving the devastating fire in California. The animal was later taken to a shelter

The puppy wandered over to the man after surviving the devastating fire in California. The animal was later taken to a shelter

A dead fawn is seen after the McKinney Fire engulfed the area and caused thousands of people to flee their homes

A dead fawn is seen after the McKinney Fire engulfed the area and caused thousands of people to flee their homes

The threatening blaze is now engulfing 80 squared miles of dry tinderbox wildland in the area as firefighters work tirelessly to calm the inferno

The threatening blaze is now engulfing 80 squared miles of dry tinderbox wildland in the area as firefighters work tirelessly to calm the inferno

The charred remains of a boat on a trailer are seen at the McKinney Fire in the Klamath National Forest northwest of Yreka, California

The charred remains of a boat on a trailer are seen at the McKinney Fire in the Klamath National Forest northwest of Yreka, California

The McKinney Fire burning near Yreka, California on Saturday

The McKinney Fire burning near Yreka, California on Saturday

Flames burn to the Klamath River during the McKinney Fire in the Klamath National Forest northwest of Yreka, California, on July 31, 2022. The largest fire in California this year is forcing thousands of people to evacuate as it destroys homes and rips through the state's dry terrain

Flames burn to the Klamath River during the McKinney Fire in the Klamath National Forest northwest of Yreka, California, on July 31, 2022. The largest fire in California this year is forcing thousands of people to evacuate as it destroys homes and rips through the state’s dry terrain

Authorities are now trying to protect homes and infrastructure instead of attempting to calm the size of the roaring wildfire. 

A photographer came to the aid of a puppy wandering through the ruins of the area, where it was standing over a home that had been destroyed by the fire. 

Jonathan Rivas brought the puppy to his truck, where he gave it water and then took it to the Rescue Ranch adoption center in the city of Yreka.

Intense overhead clouds formed by the inferno, which has been described as a ‘fire-breathing dragon of clouds’ is said to be generating its own thunderstorm – with many fearing that this will spark additional fires. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Saturday as the fire intensified, in a bid to get state resources focused on saving the county from charring destruction. 

Yesterday Caroline Quintanilla, a spokeswoman at Klamath National Forest, said: ‘It’s continuing to grow with erratic winds and thunderstorms in the area and we’re in triple digit temperatures.’

Highway 98 has been shut because of the fires in the area and parts of Yreka, California have now been evacuated. 

The Yreka Police Department issued evacuation orders for a neighborhood in the western part of the town – where they told locals to ‘leave immediately.’ 

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures on Sunday rose between 90F and 100F causing a red flag fire danger warning to be issued. 

The McKinney Fire exploded about 15 miles south of the Oregon border on Saturday in the Klamath National Forest

Jonathan Rivas brought the puppy to his truck, where he gave it water and then took it to the Rescue Ranch adoption center in the city of Yreka

Jonathan Rivas brought the puppy to his truck, where he gave it water and then took it to the Rescue Ranch adoption center in the city of Yreka

The McKinney Fire burns near Yreka, California, as it ravaged 80 square miles of vegetation, destroying a dozen homes and forcing local residents to evacuate

The McKinney Fire burns near Yreka, California, as it ravaged 80 square miles of vegetation, destroying a dozen homes and forcing local residents to evacuate

Crawford and her husband stayed, as other residents evacuated, to defend their home from the McKinney fire in Northern California

Crawford and her husband stayed, as other residents evacuated, to defend their home from the McKinney fire in Northern California

Crawford walks past her home as a wildfire called the McKinney fire burns above the hill from her house in the Klamath National Forest, northern California, on Saturday

Crawford walks past her home as a wildfire called the McKinney fire burns above the hill from her house in the Klamath National Forest, northern California, on Saturday

Highway 98 has been shut because of the fires in the area and parts of Yreka, California have now been evacuated

Highway 98 has been shut because of the fires in the area and parts of Yreka, California have now been evacuated

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said search crews rescued about 60 hikers from backpacking on a trail that runs from Canada to Mexico. 

The Pacific Coast Trail Association urged hikers to get to the nearest town while the U.S. Forest Service closed a 110-milesection of the trail from the Etna Summit to the Mt. Ashland Campground in southern Oregon.

Oregon state Representative Dacia Grayber, who is a firefighter, was camping with her husband, who is also in the fire service, near the California state line when gale-force winds awoke them just after midnight.

The sky was glowing with strikes of lightening in the clouds over the weekend, while ash was blowing at them, though they were in Oregon, about 10 miles away. 

Intense heat from the fire had sent up a massive pyrocumulonimbus cloud, which can produce its own weather system including winds and thunderstorms, Grayber said.

She said: ‘These were some of the worst winds I’ve ever been in and we’re used to big fires.

‘I thought it was going to rip the roof top tent off of our truck. We got the heck out of there.’

On their way out, they came across hikers on the Pacific Coast Trail fleeing to safety.

‘The terrifying part for us was the wind velocity,’ she said. ‘It went from a fairly cool breezy night to hot, dry hurricane-force winds. Usually that happens with a fire during the day but not at night. I hope for everyone’s sake this dies down but it’s looking like it’s going to get worse.’

The ruins of the Oak Mobile Park are seen at the McKinney Fire in the Klamath National Forest northwest of Yreka, California, on July 31, 2022

The ruins of the Oak Mobile Park are seen at the McKinney Fire in the Klamath National Forest northwest of Yreka, California, on July 31, 2022

Flames burn to the Klamath River during the McKinney Fire in the Klamath National Forest northwest of Yreka, California

Flames burn to the Klamath River during the McKinney Fire in the Klamath National Forest northwest of Yreka, California

Klamath Interagency Hotshots rest while waiting for a new assignment as the McKinney Fire burns near Yreka, California

Klamath Interagency Hotshots rest while waiting for a new assignment as the McKinney Fire burns near Yreka, California

The McKinney fire has been burning since Friday afternoon, and is currently zero per cent contained

The McKinney fire has been burning since Friday afternoon, and is currently zero per cent contained

CNN Meteorologist Haley Brink explained that more than two million people are under red flag warnings on Monday – covering areas in northern California, eastern Washington, Montana, eastern Wyoming, western South Dakota, central Oregon, and northwestern Nebraska.  

The US Forest Service said last night: ‘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.’

There is a total of 648 firefighting personnel working on easing the blaze.

Jackson County Emergency Management told locals last night that there is currently no evacuations in place but warned that people must ‘be ready’ as conditions could change ‘any minute.’ 

They said: ‘Thunderstorm conditions continue and can change any minute so BE READY. 

‘New starts monitoring and response is ongoing. However, this weather means new fires could start and change conditions quickly.

‘This is a good time to work on your family’s preparedness and monitoring together.’

There is a total of 648 firefighting personnel working on easing the blaze - but currently it is zero per cent contained

There is a total of 648 firefighting personnel working on easing the blaze – but currently it is zero per cent contained 

The largest fire in California this year is forcing thousands of people to evacuate as it destroys homes and rips through the state's dry terrain, whipped up by strong winds and lightning storms. Pictured is a burned out car in the fire's aftermath

The largest fire in California this year is forcing thousands of people to evacuate as it destroys homes and rips through the state’s dry terrain, whipped up by strong winds and lightning storms. Pictured is a burned out car in the fire’s aftermath

The Klamath River is shrouded in smoke during the McKinney Fire in the Klamath National Forest northwest of Yreka, California

The Klamath River is shrouded in smoke during the McKinney Fire in the Klamath National Forest northwest of Yreka, California

The charred remnants of a car towing a trailer that burned when fire jumped the Klamath River remain on the highway at the McKinney Fire in the Klamath National Forest northwest of Yreka, California

The charred remnants of a car towing a trailer that burned when fire jumped the Klamath River remain on the highway at the McKinney Fire in the Klamath National Forest northwest of Yreka, California

source: dailymail.co.uk