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Lightning sparks fires in Tahoe forest

Tribune News Service

Four small fires continued to burn Sunday in the Tahoe National Forest, sparked by Saturday’s lightning storm, forest spokeswoman Ann Westling said.

“The lightning activity (Saturday) evening was not as extensive as expected, with 34 strikes hitting the Tahoe National Forest,” Westling wrote. “Additional smoke or fires may continue to pop up (Sunday) afternoon.”

Weather was expected to become warmer and dryer by Monday, and no additional lightning was expected overnight Sunday. Nevertheless, “reconnaissance flights will take place throughout the day (Sunday), with expectations that additional fires will be spotted as the day warms up,” Westling wrote.



In the Yuba River Ranger District:

• A fire 3 miles east of Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park is 1.5 acres and contained. Three engines, one water tender and one hand crew from the Forest Service, North San Juan Fire Protection District and Cal Fire responded.



• A fire is burning 1.5 miles south of Downieville on Galloway Ridge and is 0.75 acre. Forest Service personnel including six smoke jumpers are responding.

• A new fire near Keystone Gap was reported Sunday afternoon approximately 4 miles southwest of Sierra City.

In the American River Ranger District:

• Fire near Snow Mountain in a remote area overlooking the North Fork American River has been contained at 0.1 acre. Four Forest Service smoke jumpers continue to strengthen the line and mop-up.


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