12 lightening caused fires

Lightning causes at least 12 fires

Lightning strikes caused at least a dozen fires in the Victor Valley and San Bernardino Mountains on Saturday, fire officials say.

One lightning-caused fire is 20 to 30 acres
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northwest of Lake Arrowhead, according to U.S. Forest Service dispatcher Jamie Salas.

Forward progress has been stopped on the fire, which firefighters are referring to as the Deep Fire, she said.

The fire is in a remote area by the Pinnacles of Lake Arrowhead that can be accessed only by helicopter or hiking. Four fire engines are standing by in case the fire changes direction, but they can't reach its present location, she said.

Two helicopters, along with a fire crew and the engines, are assigned to the fire, but the helicopters are watching the storm to see if it blocks air travel.

San Bernardino County and CalFire San Bernardino County crews responded, but have been recalled, according to Salas.

County firefighters responded to at least a dozen lightning-ignited fires, the largest - at Cougar Buttes - being contained to four acres, said John Tucker, dispatch supervisor for the county fire department.

None of the fires reportedly threatened any buildings.

Thunderstorms also led to flash flood warnings that lasted from early afternoon until 8 p.m. Saturday, but Tucker said there were no reports of flooding.

The National Weather Service advises people to avoid driving through flooded roads, because the road could have been washed away and it's often impossible to tell how deep the water is, said forecaster Jamie Moker.

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