The weekend thunderstorm brought more than 700 lightning strikes on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Dozens of fires were discovered as a result. The great majority of them were contained, controlled or extinguished very quickly, but many more may still be smoldering and aerial reconnaissance flights will continue as officials search for more smoke columns.
The McDonald Fire in Eastern Lassen County just east of the Community of Madeline was sparked by lightning early Thursday morning. It hasn’t grown beyond the 1020 acres it was on Friday and Monday morning it was declared fully contained. It’s burning in high desert grasses, brush and juniper.
A fire broke out Sunday in grass and oak woodland west of Red Bluff near Reeds Creek Road and Brush Creek Road. Forward progress was stopped at around 20 acres.
A fire started Sunday off Ash Creek Road at a location where remote control aircraft are flown. Apparently a part on an RC helicopter exploded. The fire was held at 3 to 4 acres.
Cal-Fire/Shasta County Fire responded to 14 confirmed lightning fires over the weekend, including a detached garage. All of them have been contained. The largest of the fires near Ono was just over 12 acres.