CA-SHF-Lightning Complex - 380 lightning strikes across Northern California

Recent Lightning Activity Spark Fires Across Northern California

REDDING, Calif. – Widespread storms produced at least 380 lightning strikes across Northern California beginning about 2 p.m. and lasting until late evening today. On the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, seven fires were detected, attacked and contained this afternoon.

The Buck, Union and Thompson Fires were suppressed in the headwaters of the Trinity River about eight miles northwest of Coffee Creek. All were estimated at one-tenth acre in size.

About five miles west of Siskiyou Lake, the Toad Fire was contained at approximately one acre. The Allen Fire, about five miles south of Burnt Ranch and the Little Fire about five miles northwest of Hyampom were suppressed at one-tenth acre each. North of Mt. Shasta near the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial on Highway 97, the Memorial Fire was contained at one-quarter acre.

Five engines, one dozer and one hand crew were required to fight the Toad Fire, and several engines suppressed the Memorial Fire. The rest burned in remote inaccessible terrain, and were attacked by smokejumpers and rappellers from the Redding airbase. Additional smokejumpers were brought in from Redmond, Oregon to help attack any additional fires.

“We’ve ordered an additional aerial reconnaissance flight tomorrow and will probably find new fires”, said Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Fire Chief Arlen Cravens. “We’ve got all our new fires staffed, and ninety-eight percent of the time we succeed if we can get them knocked down in the first 24 hours.”

Fire updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
General fire information can be found at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity

Don Ferguson
Public Affairs and Communications
Shasta-Trinity National Forest