Klamathon fire 8,000 acres; I-5 still closed

Document text

The Klamathon fire burning south of Hornbrook has reached 8,000 acres and is 5 percent contained, according to CalFire. Interstate 5 was still closed in both directions from Yreka to the Oregon border, a 6:09 a.m. update today said, though transportation officials are letting a few cars through at a time. Oregon Department of Transportation officials said its crews and Oregon State Police will escort several hundred vehicles through the burn zone southbound from milepost 11 south of Ashland, and CalTrans and CHP will do the same northbound from Yreka. "Expect major delays and congestion," a release said. "Depending on Klamathon fire behavior throughout the day, conditions could change." The fire started shortly after noon Thursday and is burning off Klamathon Road and Copco Road south of Hornbrook in Siskiyou County. Evacuations are in progress for the town of Hornbrook, north of Copco Road. An evacuation order is in effect for Klamathon Road, all Hornbrook City and all the way to and including Hilt and Colestin Valley. Evacuation shelters are open at the Jackson Street School in Yreka and at Ashland High School. A shelter for large animals has been established at Siskiyou Fairgrounds.