Lightning strikes a cause of concern for local fire agencies

Fire officials say lightning strikes are responsible for starting at least eight small fires across the Central Coast. Just because the stormy skies have passed doesn’t mean the fire danger has.

The National Weather Service says nearly 1,000 lightning strikes were reported from the Bay Area to Monterey Bay. Several of those strikes sparked fires all over the Central Coast, mainly in the areas of Carmel and Big Sur. Cal Fire’s quick actions kept them contained.

Despite Friday’s sun and clear skies, there’s still a danger lurking in hidden view.

“After a lightning strike from a fire,” Cal Fire PIO Jonathan Pangburn explained, “It can smolder in a tree for days, even more than a week before it has enough heat on it and wind to spread into the neighboring vegetation and turn into a fire.”

Cal Fire isn’t taking chances. From the skies to the streets, fire personnel from different agencies are keeping an eye out for anything.

“We’re performing reconnaissance with an Air Tactical Unit out of the Hollister Air Attack Base over the area,” Pangburn said. “Trying to find any smokes and potential fires that are out there.”

Just because some parts of the area did receive some rain, it wasn’t enough to mitigate the fire risks. Cal Fire warns people of having a false sense of security. That’s why they ask homeowners to maintain defensible space. So while they’re keeping an eye out, they’re asking homeowners to do the same. In a fire season as volatile as this one, prevention can truly save property and lives.

Our local Cal Fire responded to five small fires and helped the Forest Service with one. There was also another reported fire in Alameda County. The Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District had at least two, and Salinas Fire says they were spared from any fire-related strikes.

Learn more about wildfire preparedness here.