News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 21, 2015

Lightning fires located on Mendocino National Forest

WILLOWS, Calif. – The Mendocino National Forest is currently locating and taking actions to suppress fires started by lightning yesterday.

The Forest received several hundred lightning strikes Monday afternoon and evening throughout the forest.

Since yesterday, the Forest has identified one fire on the Grindstone Ranger District on the east side of the Forest and two fires on the Covelo Ranger District on the northwest side of the Forest.

All of the fires are small, half an acre or less.  Progress towards containment has been made on all three fires.

As conditions continue to dry out and warm up, firefighters anticipate discovering more lightning fires in coming days.  There is also a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.

Forest visitors are asked to be aware of their surroundings and to be prepared for changing conditions.  This includes reporting visible smoke that could be from a wildfire.

To report a fire, please call 911.

As a reminder, the Mendocino National Forest is currently under fire restrictions.  Visitors are asked to follow regulations and be careful with anything with a flame or that can throw a spark in the forest.  For more information, please visit www.preventwildfireca.org/OneLessSpark/.

For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino. Updates are also available on Twitter @MendocinoNF.