High Fire Alert in Sonoma County After Dry Lightning

Sonoma county residents should be on guard for increased risk of brush fires caused by dry lightening or wind, according to an article in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

A spate of dry lightning strikes that began Wednesday night produced fears of a situation reminiscent of June 2008, when lighting caused more than 2,000 fires statewide, including 129 in Mendocino County alone that burned some 53,000 acres.

Instead, the word Thursday morning was that 13 fires had been ignited, all under a quarter acre, in Shasta, Modoc and Lassen counties, Cal Fire Capt. Jon Lovie said.

Fire officials are urging residents to refrain from activities which might ignite fires including:

• Using electronic equipment in dry vegetation, particularly after 10 a.m.
• Driving motor vehicles on high or dry folliage
• Burning illegal campfires, or failing to extinguish them

Cal Fire Capt. Jon Lovie told the Press Democrat that the Bay Area could be at high-risk for dry lightning for the next five to seven days.