McKinney Fire (2022)
Siskiyou County (Klamath National Forest), California · Jul 29, 2022 – Sep 2022
Largest California wildfire of 2022Acres burned
60,138
Lives lost
4
Structures destroyed
185
Year
2022
What happened
The McKinney Fire was the largest California wildfire of 2022, killing four people near the Oregon border after a dramatic, thunderstorm-driven explosion in growth.
Cause
Under investigation
Location
Siskiyou County (Klamath National Forest), California
Key facts
- ▪Largest California wildfire of 2022
- ▪4 deaths
- ▪Thunderstorm-driven rapid growth
- ▪Threatened the Pacific Crest Trail community of Seiad Valley
Replay the McKinney Fire in the spread simulator
This centers the wildfire-spread simulator on the McKinney Fire’s documented ignition point and replays its conditions on 2022-07-29 — the day’s strongest wind, temperature, and humidity from the open-meteo historical archive (which set the fire-day fuel moisture) — run through the same Rothermel surface-fire model used across FireRisk. Press ▶ Simulate to watch how fire tends to move under those conditions.
⚠️ Educational reconstruction — not the real fire perimeter
This is a simplified model of how fire spreads under the 2022 conditions, not the McKinney Fire’s actual burned area, official progression, or a prediction of any current fire. It cannot account for real fuels, suppression, spotting, or how conditions changed hour to hour. For real-time fire information always follow Watch Duty, official agencies, and local authorities — and call 911 in an emergency.
Loading the 2022 fire-day conditions…
Reminder: an educational reconstruction of fire spread under the 2022 conditions — not the McKinney Fire’s actual perimeter, an official record, or a forecast. Modeled spread, direction, and timing are illustrative only. Never rely on it for any safety decision.
Could your home survive a fire like the McKinney Fire?
Check your address for a 0–100 wildfire risk score, every fire recorded nearby, and the hardening steps that change the outcome.
Related major fires
McKinney Fire FAQ
When was the McKinney Fire and where did it burn?
The McKinney Fire started Jul 29, 2022 in Siskiyou County (Klamath National Forest), California, and was contained Sep 2022.
How many acres did the McKinney Fire burn?
The McKinney Fire burned approximately 60,138 acres.
How many people died in the McKinney Fire?
Approximately 4 people died in the McKinney Fire.
What caused the McKinney Fire?
Under investigation.
Figures are approximate and compiled from official agency reporting; totals for recent fires may still be revised. FireRisk.ai is an independent wildfire-risk service.