The Associated Press
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Lightning strikes set palm trees ablaze in Southern California desert areas as thunderstorms quickly rolled across the region with downpours, thunderclaps and a dramatic light show.
Palm Springs fire Battalion Chief Jon Merriam says firefighters were called out before dawn Tuesday to extinguish burning palms.
The Palm Springs Desert Sun says about 10 trees caught fire in the middle of the Indian Canyons golf course. Merriam says those fires posed the biggest challenge for firefighters because they had to use about 800 feet of hose to reach the trees.
Two trees also caught fire on Ramon Road and three more burned at the Seven Lakes Country Club.
No structures were threatened.
The storms moved quickly through the area, heading north and east into Nevada and Arizona.