Local Resources Fighting Storm Sparked Forest Fires

Sonora, CA – Stanislaus National Forest (STF) officials report local resources have been called up to assist in more than 50 fires burning in Northern California that were ignited by today’s scattered thunderstorms.

Forest spokesperson Veronica Lopez confirms that currently there are 54 forest fires ablaze in Six Rivers, Klamath, Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta Trinity and Lassen national forests.  Six Rivers currently has 20 confirmed fires burning with the largest 20 acres in size, according to Lopez. She reports, “The Groveland Hotshot crew and a strike team, five engines and one team leader are in Redding, assisting with 20 confirmed fires in Six Rivers, with the largest fire being 30 acres.”  She adds that the hotshots have about 20 members and the strike team has 27 firefighters.

Yosemite National Park officials reports it received just rain today, but seven lightning strikes from storms two weeks ago ignited several fires. Ranger Scott Gediman clarifies, “Very small fires, all of them well under an acre. Everything was under control — none of them have grown, and I’m thinking with the rain, those are probably all out.”

Lopez says that currently crews are on standby on the Stanislaus Forest. “We have six engines, a hotshot crew, water tender and four crews ready to fight any fires.” She adds there is no estimated time as to when the Groveland crews will return.