At least four people have been killed in wildfires in California, officials said earlier yesterday, warning that the death toll could rise in the state’s worst wildfires this year. The rain and cold weather provided some relief for the hundreds of firefighters struggling to protect the town of Yreka, a town of 8,000 people, but the human cost of the fire continued to rise. “There are four confirmed deaths, and that number could rise,” Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Courtney Crite told AFP. Two of the dead were found in a car on Sunday, apparently burned while trying to escape. No details have been released about the two deceased. At least 3,000 people in and around the Klamath River were told to evacuate their homes, while 100 facilities were destroyed. “Our goal today is to communicate effectively with residents and ask them to comply with evacuation orders,” Crider added. “Our priority is to protect lives and property,” he said. The State Fire Department (Calfair) said improved overnight weather helped contain the spread of the “Magni” fire, but the vegetation cover is still dry and prone to lightning.

At least 3,000 people in and around the Klamath River town have been asked to evacuate their homes. Events and photos