According to the sheriff's office the bodies were found in a vehicle west of the community of Klamath River off of Highway 96. No additional information will be released until the bodies are identified and notifications are sent to next of kin.
The McKinney Fire, first reported Friday afternoon, had grown to 55,493 acres on Monday with 0% containment. Officials say that the fire was not caused by a lightning storm over the weekend. An investigation is underway into how the fire did start.
Around 2,000 people remain evacuated in communities in central Siskiyou County. Evacuation orders spanned unincorporated communities along Highway 96, including Klamath River, Hamburg and Seiad Valley, and areas west of Yreka. Evacuation orders for Siskiyou County can be found here.
Continued hot temperatures and lightning in the forecast have caused red flag warnings for the Yreka area. Hazardous weather conditions are also forecast for communities in Southern Oregon including Medford, Klamath Falls and Rogue River until Tuesday night.
New lightning fires were still being detected on Sunday with crews responding to multiple other fires in the area. The 1,989-acre China 2 Fire is burning west of Seiad Valley and is 0% contained.
Meteorologist Brad Schaaf with the National Weather Service Medford office said thunderstorms are expected each afternoon and evening in the area around the McKinney Fire through Monday. The weather pattern creates the possibility of gusty wind that could continue to drive the fire. But, he said, wildfire smoke could also prevent new thunderstorms.
"The smoke could inhibit some of the instability, meaning that the thunderstorms may not have a chance to really get going in areas with a lot of smoke," Schaaf said.
Persistent drought conditions have caused extremely dry fuels and resulted in rapid fire spread.
The Pacific Crest Trail Association and Forest Service announced the closure of a 110-mile section of the popular hiking trail on Saturday, urging hikers in the area to evacuate to the nearest town. The closure stretches from Etna Summit to Mt. Ashland, across the Oregon border.
Dogs, cats and livestock found around the perimeter of the McKinney Fire are being kept at several locations in Siskiyou County. Found animals are listed on the Siskiyou County animal control website.
A community meeting for residents effected by the fire will be held at 5 p.m. at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds Livestock Arena. It will also be streamed here.
