News // California Wildfires

Dozens rescued from Pacific Crest Trail as McKinney Fire threatens Yreka

Katie Dowd, SFGATE
July 31, 2022

Dozens of hikers on the famed Pacific Crest Trail have been located and evacuated as the McKinney Fire explodes along the California-Oregon border.

According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, at least 60 hikers were found on the trail in the Klamath National Forest and escorted to safety. A spokesperson from the sheriff's office told NewsWatch 12 that although no hikers were in imminent danger, the remote nature of the trail and the quickly changing wildfire conditions made search-and-rescue the best option.

The Pacific Crest Trail is over 2,600 miles of varied, stunning hiking from the California-Mexico border up to the Washington-Canada border. It's believed that hundreds of people attempt to complete the full hike each year, but it's estimated that hundreds of thousands of people enjoy some section of the trail annually.

In response to the fire, the Forest Service has closed 110 miles of the PCT. The emergency closure order is in effect through August 30.

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