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March 17, 2026
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Updated March 17, 2026
DORRIS, Calif. – A shelter in place order and parts of highway 97 closed in Northern California following a chemical spill in Dorris Tuesday morning. The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office said a southbound truck was turning a corner and ended up spilling roughly 60 gallons of paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide.
Paraquat can be fatal if inhaled or ingested and also poses airborne risks. The Sheriff’s office ordered the shelter in place for two zones: that’s DOR 4106, east of Matthews Road and North of Richardson Road and DOR 4112, west of Dorris Brownell Road and north of Richardson Road. Highway 97 from the agricultural station and Dorris Hill are currently closed. Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue said,
“The company that spilled it actually is in the process of determining how best to clean it up, and they’re doing that right now, they’ve been trained on how to do that. We also have the county health department that’s on-site as well, assisting with that. And so, we’re hoping maybe it’s going to be a few hours, it may be longer, it all depends on just how it goes. So, right now, we’re not sure.”
The company name has not been confirmed.
Those affected are advised to turn off all AC and HVAC units, keep doors and windows closed, avoid outdoor activities and bring pets inside. If you believe you’ve been exposed or have come into contact with the chemical, call 911. For updates, visit the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
This is a developing story; updates will be made when more information is available.
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