Last Week's Lightning Sparked Small Fires In Monterey Area

Thursday’s lightning in the Bay Area sparked five small fires overnight in the Monterey area, according to Cal Fire.

Despite the small blazes, officials from the National Weather Service and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission said the fire danger subsided and areas susceptible to fire reopened.

Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said the five fires were all contained and burned only small areas. He didn’t have any information on the number of fires started by lightning in other parts of the Bay Area.

National Weather Service officials issued a Red Flag Warning to alert residents of the increased potential for wildfires Thursday -- prompted by the weather -- and lifted it at 5:03 a.m. Friday, the officials said. As a result, the SFPUC reopened the Peninsula Watershed, which comprises two lakes and a reservoir and provides water to 2.6 million customers in the Bay Area.

Lightning struck 978 times in the Bay Area Thursday night during a dry storm, according to the National Weather Service. Forecaster Steve Anderson said the strikes occurred between 8 p.m. and midnight from Monterey County up through the East Bay.

• Also in the North Bay: New Wildfire Explodes in Lake County
• Previous: Red Flag Warning Issued for Bay Area

--Bay City News