Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2006 • Lighting storms ignite fires throughout Northeastern California, largest one near Sunnyside Road

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Aug. 15 edition of the Lassen County Times.

On Sunday, Aug. 6 lightning ignited a fire near Bass Hill and Sunnyside roads.

Four engines, four hand crews, four air tankers, four helicopters and one dozer responded to the Sunnyside fire.

The fire was contained at 8 p.m. and burned 25 acres.

Fire engines and hand crews also responded to small lighting fires located in the Surprise Valley, Alturas, Bieber, Westwood and Susanville areas.

A news release from the Susanville Interagency Fire Center said fire officials remind everyone fire restrictions are currently in place on the Lassen and Modoc National Forests and on Bureau of Land Management areas of Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Shasta, Siskiyou and Washoe counties.

Restrictions include
• No open fires, campfires or charcoal fires are allowed outside of designated areas, developed campgrounds, even with a valid California Campfire Permit. However, lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized fuel may be used if visitors have a valid California Campfire Permit.
• No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or designated recreation site.
• Use of motor vehicles and all internal combustion engines is prohibited except on National Forest roads within designated recreation sites and on established roads and trails on Bureau of Land Management public lands.
• Woodcutting is prohibited after 1 p.m. daily.