Lightning Ignites 150-Acre Fire Near Joshua Tree National Park

JOSHUA TREE, CA — As a monsoonal storm system moved through the Joshua Tree area Tuesday, lightning strikes caused multiple vegetation fires near the national park, including one that ballooned to 150 acres, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.

Dubbed the Cascade Fire, the blaze was reported shortly after 1 p.m. at Cascade Road and 4th Street on the northern edge of Joshua Tree National Park.

As of 2:45 p.m., the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District reported the brusher's forward progress had been halted. There were no injuries and no structure damage. Crews will be on scene into the evening for mop-up, the agency reported.

There was a severe thunderstorm warning in the area, with flash flood warnings issued across the Inland Empire.

A strong high pressure system over the southwestern states was forecast to bring scattered thunderstorms to parts of the Inland Empire Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Read the full weather update on Thunderstorms, Lightning In Forecast: Riverside County.

JOSHUA TREE: #SBCoFD responding to numerous VEG FIRES as result of #lighting from storms moving through area. Largest near 4th St/Cascade Rd. 5 acres MROS thru light fuels. ^eas
— SB County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) August 18, 2020

Storm in #joshuatree and a fire just broke out north of highway towards 29 pic.twitter.com/C5tp3iK1gc
— Yves (@yvessaintlrn) August 18, 2020