Lightning hits oak tree, causes vegetation fire in Parkfield

Lightning caused a vegetation fire in Southern Monterey County and Sunday night it’s fully contained, CAL FIRE officials said.

Named the Deer Fire, it torched 66 acres after igniting just after 3 p.m. on Deer Canyon Road near Cross Canyon Road in Parkfield, firefighters said.

A ranch manager from Sky Rose Ranch called it in and when fire crews arrived it had already spread to approximately 20 acres, firefighters said.

No structures were damaged or injuries reported as 75 firefighters joined the effort. The fire was battled by seven CAL FIRE engines, two hand crews, a bulldozer, two air-tankers and a helicopter.

Lightning struck an oak tree on Thursday, fire officials said. Because the temperatures were cool and humid that day, the fire didn’t spread and smoldered for a couple of days, fire officials explained. However, with dry conditions and temperatures heating up Sunday in the inland areas, the flames were able to spread to the grass and the Deer Fire formed.