Siskiyou County Emergency: Arson in Yreka and Missing Woman Search Ends

Key Takeaways

• A Yreka man was arrested on suspicion of arson, mayhem and domestic violence after a woman was set on fire in a downtown tent on Aug. 3, 2026.
• The victim suffered severe burns to multiple parts of her body and was flown to UC Davis for treatment.
• The suspect is described as the victim's boyfriend of five years.
• Separately, the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office ended a search for Joyce Hammon, 58, of Seiad Valley.
• Hammon had left for Gold Hill, Oregon, in a silver 2017 Ford Edge SUV and failed to arrive.

Arson Attack Reported in Downtown Yreka

On Aug. 3, 2026, officers from the Yreka Police Department responded to the 500 block of North Main Street after a report that a woman had been set on fire by her boyfriend. When officers arrived, they found a female victim with severe burns on multiple areas of her body.

Officers spoke with the victim and a witness at the scene. The man, identified as her boyfriend of five years, was later arrested on charges of arson, mayhem and domestic violence. The victim was flown to UC Davis for burn treatment. Her current condition was not included in the initial report.

Search for Missing Seiad Valley Woman Ends

In a separate case, the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office received a call around 7 p.m. on Aug. 7, 2026, about 58-year-old Joyce Hammon. A family member said Hammon had left her residence in Seiad Valley around 1 p.m. the previous afternoon to visit her mother in Gold Hill, Oregon. She was driving a silver 2017 Ford Edge SUV.

According to the report, the search for Hammon ended by Aug. 10. The available article does not say whether she was found or the outcome of the case.

Local Context in Siskiyou County

Yreka is the county seat of Siskiyou County, a rural area in far Northern California near the Oregon border. The arson case took place in a downtown corridor, and the victim's injuries required transport to a major medical center outside the county. The missing-person case in Seiad Valley shows how quickly local searches can involve travel across state lines.

Background

Domestic violence cases involving fire carry a high risk of death and serious injury. Fire can spread quickly in dense downtown areas and can also be used to destroy evidence. In Siskiyou County, search and rescue operations often cover long distances, and the missing-person case involving a drive toward Oregon added an extra layer of complexity.

Conclusion

The Yreka Police Department is leading a serious criminal investigation while the sheriff's office has closed a missing-person case in the same county. Both incidents underscore the public safety challenges in Siskiyou County. Residents should stay alert and report any additional information to local law enforcement.

Sources and Materials

• siskiyou