SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Last night’s spectacular lightning storm let U.S. Forest Service firefighters know they would likely be busy today.
There were 173 confirmed lightning strikes across the Sierra National Forest, sparking some 10 fires, according to SNF Headquarters.
The Cattle One Fire, burning on the Bass Lake Ranger District just below Clover Meadow, was reported by the lookout at Shuteye Peak early this morning. Three smokejumpers were dropped over the fire initially, and another six are now on scene, along with the Crane Valley Hot Shots. Latest reports had the fire holding at 2.5 acres in difficult terrain.
The Trail Fire is burning just east of Clover Meadow on the south side of the ridge. Three smokejumpers are on that incident which is estimated at about one acre.
A third reported lightning-caused fire has been dubbed the Snake Fire, and is a small 30×30 ft. spot in the Ansel Adams Wilderness area. USFS officials had been keeping an eye on it to assess any potential suppression response, and have now sent in six helitack crew members to do full suppression on the fire.
