UPDATE: Missing Klamath River man found safe in Washington

Stanley Mortensen
Stanley Mortensen

7:30 a.m. Wednesday UPDATE

An 80-year-old Klamath River man who went missing after he evacuated in the McKinney Fire has been found safe, the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office said.

Stanley Mortensen was last seen at the initial evacuation center that was set up in Yreka, sheriff's office spokeswoman Courtney Kreider said Tuesday.

"Mr. Mortensen has been located alive and well in Washington State. Thank you everyone for the assistance," the sheriff's office said Tuesday evening.

"It’s great to see the community come together and help each other out," the sheriff's office added in a Facebook post.

Deputies said that as of Tuesday night, no one was unaccounted for in the McKinney Fire.

ORIGINAL STORY

The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in locating a Klamath River man who hasn't been seen since the start of the McKinney Fire on July 29.

Stanley Mortensen, 80, was last seen at the initial evacuation center that was set up in Yreka, sheriff's office spokeswoman Courtney Kreider said.

Kreider said Mortensen's house burned in the fire. She did not have further details.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 530-841-2900.

The McKinney Fire is the state's largest wildfire to date this year.

Driven by strong winds that came up in the evening during the first day of the blaze, the fire destroyed an estimated 132 buildings, including 87 homes.

The fire has killed at least four people.

McKinney Fire update:: No one injured when blaze burns over two crew vehicles; wildfire up to 55% containment

It had burned 60,389 acres and was 55% contained as of Tuesday, the U.S. Forest Service said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Missing Klamath River man found safe in Washington