Lightning Caused Fire Being Monitored In Stanislaus National Forest

Tuolumne County, CA — Firefighters in the Stanislaus National Forest are keeping a close eye on a small fire that ignited about 15 miles outside of Kennedy Meadows on the Summit Ranger District.

The fire, estimated to be 0.1 acre, and started by a lightning strike, is situated between Kennedy Meadows and the Dardanelle day use area. Due to the steep and rugged terrain, access is very difficult. The fire’s activity is very low and no structures are considered threatened. There are 19 firefighters assigned to the incident, one hand crew and one helicopter. Firefighters are in strategic and safe locations, with the goal of monitoring the fire’s behavior and stopping the spread as needed. Forest Service officials note that the fire will be allowed to burn out naturally, to the extent possible, to return fire to the ecosystem. Containment is not expected until September 4.