30 Wildfires Break Out In Cascades After Lightning Strikes

YAKIMA, WA — Thirty small wildfires broke out across the eastern side of the Cascades over the last 24 hours due to lightning strikes, according to the U.S. Forest Service. All the fires are under a 1/2-acre, except for one burning near Yakima that is about 10 acres.

Firefighting resources will be focused on the fire near Yakima, called the Left Hand Fire. The 30 fires over the last 24 hours spanned an area stretching from Naches north to the Methow Valley.

The Forest Service will put out many of the fires, but some will be left to burn naturally. Those decisions will be made based on "location, terrain, resources, weather and values of each fire," the Forest Service said in an update Wednesday morning.

The last major wildfire in the state, the Juniper Fire, burned across 250 acres in Klickitat County. That fire was contained as of Tuesday evening, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.