Humans Carry The Weight Of Climate Change as the McKinney Fire Continues to Burn

Known for its seasonal wildfires, the Klamath National Forest of California faces, yet again, another massive blaze.  The McKinney fire broke out at 2:15 pm on July 29th in Siskiyou County and has continued to burn through over 60,389 acres of land according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire), serving as the largest wildfire the California-Oregon border has experienced in 2022. 

There have been 4 recorded deaths, 90 homes destroyed and 15 injuries from firefighters active on the
scene. CAL Fire has done a good job of containing the fire to the best of its ability, as it remains 55% contained as of 8 a.m. on August 9th. 

Photo taken from Karuk Tribe of California- Water Resources

But as land turns into debris and structures turn into rubble, the consistency of the river turns into a
chocolate dairy beverage–yes, chocolate milk.  Follow SpotLife Asia for the latest news and updates.

According to a member of the Karuk Tribe, tens of thousands of fish were found lifeless floating on top of the stream of Indian Creek near Happy Camp on Friday morning with the consistency of the river resembling that of “chocolate milk”.  Species such as salmon, suckerfish, and trout were victimized due to the presence of brown muck and a recorded river oxygen level of zero on August 4th. This new chocolate milk environment is toxic for the wildlife inhabiting the river, deeming it unsustainable.    

The devastated fisherman claim that the fish serve as cultural hallmarks to the Karuk Tribe. The McKinney Fire continues to strip the area of its historical value and serves as an absolute tear-jerking event for many local fishermen, one even claiming that  it’s almost as if the river itself “has died”.  As fish continue to be massacred and fragments of Highway-96 continue to be demolished, the only thing local individuals can do is evacuate the region.  

David McNew / AFP- Getty Images

In addition, the cause of the fire is still being investigated today.  Was the root of this wildfire natural or was it sparked by a faulty power line? Officials of the California Fire Department remain unsure.  However, members of CAL Fire are certain that the extremely high August temperatures and vigorous winds only aided in igniting the fire even further.  Even though almost half of the spread is contained, it has been forecasted that the arid conditions and wind moving into the Klamath region can reverse some of this progress over the landscape.  

While 2,000 firemen continue to battle the flames, the human population continues to carry the weight of climate change on their shoulders.  
Also Read: India’s commitment to climate change.

National Geographic studies have shown that the area of land destroyed by these wildfires has nearly doubled within the past decade as a result of human activity contributing to climate change.