Lightning ignites several fires in county
Lightning strikes ignited several fires in Lassen County Wednesday, Aug. 7, in the Fall River Mills and Termo areas, burning vegetation and an unoccupied residence.
According to a statement from the Susanville Interagency Fire Center, crews responded to seven fires sparked by lightning.
The R-1 Fire, burning about six miles east of Termo near Juniper Ridge Road, has burned about 130 acres as of Thursday, Aug. 8, and is in the mop-up stage at 80 percent containment. Forward progress has been stopped.
The fire, which was ignited by lightning, started Wednesday, and burned one unoccupied residence and one outbuilding, along with vegetation, according to Jeff Fontana, public affairs officer for the Bureau of Land Management, Northern California District.
Engines, air craft and water tenders assisted on the blaze.
Moreover, BLM was also working on two smaller fires in the same area, the R-2 and R-3 fires, both ignited by lightning. The R-2 fire was small and the R-3 fire was a single tree, according to Fontana.
Another fire, dubbed the 3-2 Willow Fire, was at 106 acres Thursday morning, near Pittville and Sheep Flat roads, southeast of Fall River Mills.
Forward progress has stopped on the 3-2 Willow Fire, according to Leah Sandberg, public information officer for the Cal Fire Lassen-Modoc Unit. Thursday, the fire was at 60 percent containment with dozer and hand lines and hose lay surrounding the vegetation fire.
The fire ignited Wednesday, Aug. 7, and was started by lightning, Sandberg said.
Five engines, four crews and four water tenders from Lassen National Forest, Fall River Fire Protection District, Firestorm, a private fire crew, and private dozers assisted Cal Fire on the attack.
According to the statement from the Susanville Interagency Fire Center, aircraft will patrol areas impacted by lightning, watching for smoldering lightning strikes, which could erupt into flames as temperatures and winds pick up later in the day.
Weather forecasters are calling for chances of lightning Thursday and Friday, according to the statement, and a Red Flag Warning has been issued for Modoc County and high desert lands in northeast Washoe County.
Residents and visitors are urged to take caution with any outdoor use of fire.
**The article was updated to include the statement from the Susanville Interagency Fire Center.
