Ukiah Lightning Bust

Within a two hour period Saturday afternoon over 400 lightning strikes reached the ground in the vicinity of Ukiah.  These strikes resulted in 6 fires on private land protected by the Pendleton Unit.  Two of these fires remained staffed overnight and into Sunday.  Numerous thunder cells in the area kept air resources from flying.  However, an aggressive initial attack response from engine crews and bulldozers, along with scattered precipitation, kept the fires from getting very large.  The 14 acre Buckaroo Flats Fire was the largest of the 6 fires and it was located in an area where no precipitation occurred.  Firefighters expect to find more “sleeper” fires over the next couple of days as fuels dry.  The weather forecast calls for more lightning early this week.