Photos: The McKinney fire rages along the Northern California border

The McKinney fire is burning through heavy, drought-stressed timber in steep terrain in the Klamath National Forest west of Yreka, said Caroline Quintanilla, a spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service.

It’s shaping up to be the most dangerous fire so far this season in California, threatening multiple communities. The U.S. Forest Service estimated the fire had grown to 55,493 acres with 0% containment.

“It happened so fast,” said Sherri Marchetti-Perrault, embracing James Benton. “We left with the clothes on our back. We couldn’t breathe and we couldn’t see.”

(Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)

Sherri Marchetti-Perrault and James Benton embrace as they sift through the remains of their home near Yreka, Calif.

(Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)

A metal sculpture of Bigfoot welcomes visitors to the tiny community of Happy Camp in the Klamath Forest. The McKinney fire has charred more than 51,000 acres and killed four people in the area.

(Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)

James Benton, left, shows a Sheriff’s deputy the remains of his uncle, John Cogan, whom Benton believes perished in the McKinney fire as it burned their home along Highway 96 near Yreka over the weekend.

(Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)

A search and rescue worker looks through the remains of a home.

(Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)

Smoke obscures the sun as it sets on the burn zone of the McKinney fire near Yreka. The fire has charred more than 55,000 acres and destroyed dozens of homes and structures.

(Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)

A fire truck drives Saturday along Highway 96 as the McKinney fire burns in Klamath National Forest.

(Noah Berger/Associated Press)

Chris Tierc and his mom, Melody Barnett, rest at a Red Cross shelter in Weed, Calif., on Monday.

(Noah Berger / Associated Press)

Angela Crawford watches the McKinney fire from her home in Klamath National Forest on Saturday.

(Noah Berger / Associated Press)

A man runs to a truck as the McKinney fire burns in Klamath National Forest on Saturday.

(Noah Berger / Associated Press)

Flames from the McKinney fire consume trees Saturday along Highway 96 in Klamath National Forest.

(Noah Berger / Associated Press)

A horse grazes in a pasture as the McKinney fire burns Saturday in Klamath National Forest.

(Noah Berger / Associated Press)

Charred homes and vehicles are left from the McKinney fire in Klamath National Forest.

(Noah Berger / Associated Press)

Angela Crawford planned Saturday to stay with her husband and defend their home from the McKinney fire.

(Noah Berger / Associated Press)