Stanislaus National Forest Hit By Lightning Strikes

Sonora, CA -- The Stanislaus National Forest did not escape the barrage of weekend lightning strikes.

According to S.N.F. Dispatch Manager Bill Barriors the largest of the four fires was the Murphy's Fire near Tuolumne on a peak close to Ralph's Ranch. This fire reached approximately 16 acres in size. Barrios stated that the crews were quickly dispatched to the fire and jumped on it right away in the late afternoon-early evening to eliminate the possibility of it reaching the Tuolumne River Drainage.

The one acre Marble Fire was eight miles northeast of the Murphy's Fire. The other two fires were discovered on the Crocker Ridge adjacent to Yosemite.

All four of the fires have been contained. There was never a threat to any structures and no firefighter injuries have been reported.

Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com