Authorities have identified four people killed last month when California’s biggest and deadliest wildfire of the year swept through a remote hamlet. DNA and dental analysis were used to identify residents of the Klamath River, the Siskyou County Sheriff’s Office tweeted Friday. It was Kathleen Shoopman, 73. ; Charles Kays, 79; Judith Kays, 82, and John Cogan, 76.| Video above | Longtime Forest Service employee killed in McKinney fire The U.S. Forest Service previously reported that longtime employee Shoopman died in her home when the McKinney fire began on July 29 near the border of Oregon. She worked for decades at monitoring stations, scanning the landscape for wildfires. Authorities said two bodies were found inside a charred vehicle in the driveway of a home and the other two in separate residences. | Related Wildfire Map | Here’s a look at some of the fires burning in CaliforniaThe McKinney Fire started in the Klamath National Forest and exploded when a thunderstorm created winds of up to 80 mph. He burned down much of the Klamath River, a picturesque community of about 200 people. The blaze had burned more than 94 square miles by Friday but was 95% contained and had not grown. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Scientists said climate change has made the West hotter and drier over the past three decades. and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. Across the American West, a 22-year-old mega-drought got so bad in 2021 that the region is now experiencing the driest period in at least 1,200 years.| Video below | The scenic northern California hamlet of Klamath River razed by the deadly McKinney Fire
Authorities have identified four people killed last month when California’s biggest and deadliest wildfire of the year swept through a remote hamlet.
DNA and dental analyzes were used to identify residents of the Klamath River, the Siskyou County Sheriff’s Office tweeted Friday.
They were Kathleen Shoopman, 73; Charles Kays, 79; Judith Kays, 82, and John Cogan, 76.
| Video above | Longtime Forest Service employee killed in McKinney fire
The US Forest Service previously reported that longtime employee Shoopman died in her home when the McKinney Fire broke out July 29 near the Oregon border. She worked for decades in lookouts, scanning the landscape for wildfires.
Authorities said two bodies were found inside a charred vehicle in the driveway of a home and the other two in separate residences.
| Related Wildfire Map | Here’s a look at some of the fires burning in California
The McKinney Fire started in Klamath National Forest and exploded when a thunderstorm created winds of up to 50 mph. He burned down much of the Klamath River, a picturesque community of about 200 people. As of Friday, the blaze had burned more than 94 square miles but was 95% contained and not growing.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Scientists said climate change has made the West hotter and drier over the past three decades and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. Across the American West, a 22-year-old mega-drought got so bad in 2021 that the region is now experiencing the driest period in at least 1,200 years.
| Video below | The scenic northern California hamlet of Klamath River razed by the deadly McKinney Fire