July 27, 2010 - Firefighters from numerous agencies have been on the move across northeastern California since Saturday afternoon, responding to more than 75 fires caused by lightning strikes. The Susanville Interagency Fire Center expects to continue dispatching firefighting resources through the week as new fires are detected and work continues on older fires.
"We had some rain with some of yesterday's thunderstorms, but we also had dry lightning which caused several new fires," said Jim Hedges, a manager at the fire dispatch center. "Our crews have worked hard to keep the vast majority of these fires to under an acre in size."
The largest of these fires are burning in the Russell Complex in northwest Lassen County southeast of Little Valley. The complex has five fires totaling about 250 acres and is 30 percent contained. There is no estimated date for containing the fires that are burning in timber, juniper and brush. There are no structures threatened. There are more than 590 personnel assigned.
Hedges said that SIFC has had access to needed fire fighting resources, including fire engines and crews from outside northeast California.
More thunderstorms are expected today, but weather conditions are expected to be more stable later in the week, Hedges noted.
Fire officials urged area residents and visitors to be extremely careful with fire any time they are outdoors. Campfires should be doused until they are cold to touch, vehicles should be driven only on established roads and firewood cutters should ensure that their chainsaws have spark arresters in good working condition.
Additionally, officials asked drivers to be alert for fire engines, crew buses and equipment transport trucks on highways and secondary roads as fire crews move to reported fires.
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