Lightning sparked 24 fires in 24 hours in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties after a thunderstorm moved through the region Wednesday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
No injuries were reported, and flames did not damage any buildings.
Firefighters on Thursday continued to patrol the two counties looking for “sleepers,” which are fires that may not be visible until hotter weather returns and the humidity level falls, Cal Fire's Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit reported.
Firefighting crews and equipment were strategically placed throughout the two counties Wednesday, so most of the lightning fires were found, contained and controlled quickly with minimal acres burned, Cal Fire officials said.
The largest of Wednesday’s lightning fires was a blaze that burned 84 acres before firefighters corralled the flames in a remote area 13 miles north of Copperopolis in Calaveras County.
The wildfire occurred near Salt Spring Valley and Hunt roads. Firefighters had difficulty reaching the blaze because of its location, but had contained the fire by Wednesday evening.
Firefighters remained in the area overnight to ensure the flames didn’t jump containment lines.
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