HORNBROOK, Calif. (KOIN) — A wildfire burning at California’s border with Oregon exploded to 21,803 acres overnight, and was only 5 percent contained as of Saturday morning.
The so-called Klamathon Fire killed one person Friday, though it’s still not clear who that person is or how exactly they died. The fire has also reportedly destroyed 40 structures.
CAL Fire reports the fire is moving in multiple directions and there is a high potention for spread into the Klamath National Forest, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, and Jackson County, as well as private timber lands. The fire is threatening the communities of Hornbrook and Hilt in California, and in Oregon. Those communities are under evacuation orders.
Evacuation warnings are in place for nearby communities.
Evacuation shelters are open at the Jackson Street Elementary School in Yreka, California, and at Ashland High School in Ashland, Oregon.
The fire began Thursday afternoon and quickly grew with high winds, shutting down Interstate 5 near the border late Thursday until Friday morning.
