As of this morning, the McKinney Fire has grown to 60,044 acres and is 30% contained. Branch 5 (the section of the fire above Fort Jones) is still very hot, but Fire Behavior Analyst Dennis Burns said in this morning’s briefing, “We’re feeling pretty confident that we’re not going to see any progression of the fire out of this area.”

Mop-up operations are underway in the eastern portion of the fire where containment has been established, while several zones to the west were placed under evacuation orders on Thursday. However, containment lines have been established along the western edge of the fire in spite of the difficult terrain. 

The weather today is expected to be hot and dry, though thunderstorms are a possibility.

The Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program is predicting light smoke and haze in Scott Valley today. They advise individuals with respiratory sensitivities to consider limiting outdoor activity.

Image courtesy of the Fort Jones Fire Department, September 2020.