Crews Battle Lightning Fires
Sonora, CA — Around a dozen lightning fires were reported over the past few days throughout Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties.
All of the fires were contained relatively quickly, according to Nancy Longmore of CAL Fire. The largest fire in the region started Friday afternoon near Farmington, as 1,100 acres of grass burned. On Saturday, five small lightning fires were located east of Arnold.
Also, 160 firefighters from the CAL Fire Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit have been sent down to Kern County, where over 30,000 acres has burned as a result of lightning fires.
Because of the dry conditions, Longmore is urging Mother Lode residents to get back outside and do some more yard work.
“Fire season is not over by a long shot, so please continue doing your defensible space,” says Longmore. “If you cleaned everything up three months ago, chances are they are covered with needles and leaves following the wind we had over the weekend.”
Longmore notes that there is a possibility for more lightning over the coming days. She says the month of September is a peak time for large fires.
