Lightning ignites dozens of fires

By David Richards / Editor@sierrastar.com

(Updated: Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 7:29 PM)

It wasn't a matter of if, only a matter of when.

The Mountain Area fire season kicked off in a hurry over the weekend when a lightning storm Saturday afternoon caused more than two dozen fires.

Sierra National Forest officials said firefighters were concentrating on three particular blazes this week, one near Fish Camp, one near Nipinnawasee and one in the Ponderosa Basin subdivision, halfway between Mariposa and Oakhurst.

The Oliver Fire near Ponderosa Basin, about 12 miles northwest of Oakhurst, was the only blaze as of Monday that was threatening residential structures, and the Mariposa County Sheriff's Department issued a pre-evacuation warning for residents who live in certain areas off of Chowchilla Mountain Road. As of Monday, the Oliver Fire had scorched 220 acres with a 0 percent containment.

Also as of Monday, the Westfall Fire had burned 40 acres about two miles southwest of Fish Camp with a 40 percent containment, while the Silverknob Fire, three and a half miles northeast of Nipinnawasee, had burned 100 acres with a 10 percent containment.

"It came right through Madera and Mariposa," said Trudy Tucker, spokesperson for the Sierra National Forest's Bass Lake Ranger Station in North Fork, about the storm. "It was really a light show."

National Weather Service officials said the storm started off the central coast and moved inland, ultimately creating a series of lightning strikes smack dab in the Mountain Area.

"Where most of the fires got started was from a little cluster of cells at about 6 p.m.," said Jim Bagnall, meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

Bagnall added that, for the next few days anyway, the weather pattern is stable, although some slight moisture may be in the forecast for the weekend.

The fires are being fought in a joint effort by officials from the Sierra National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Cal Fire and the sheriff departments of both Madera and Mariposa counties.

For more information about possible evacuations as a result of the Oliver Fire, residents are encouraged to call (209) 966-1133.

Major mountain fires
(statistics as of Monday)

Oliver Fire - near Ponderosa Basin, 12 miles northwest of Oakhurst off Highway 49; 220 acres, 0% contained; structures threatened.

Westfall Fire - two miles southwest of Fish Camp, 40 acres, 40% contained.

Silverknob Fire - three and a half miles northeast of Nipinnawasee 100 acres, 10% contained.