By Melissa Pinion-Whitt
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
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CALIFORNIA — It’s a combination that could make nearly any firefighter nervous: parched wildland and dry lightning.
That’s what was on minds of many firefighters Monday as thunderstorms, brought on by monsoon moisture, headed into the Inland Empire mountains and deserts.
Only scattered showers were expected, which may not be enough to douse bolts of lightning.
“Everybody knows that it’s coming and to be ready in case we have to roll on it,” said Bill Peters, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The CDF already battled one grass fire triggered by lightning last week in Lucerne Valley. The 447-acre Meridian Fire began burning Thursday night southwest of Highway 18 near Meridian Road after lightning knocked down a power line, Peters said.
All firefighters can do now is watch and wait.
Gusty winds and a 20 percent chance of rain might accompany the storms.
“Somewhere along the line they’ll get a drop or two,” said National Weather Service forecaster Stan Wasowski. “Probably what will happen is if we get lightning, it might start some more fires.”
The good news is, temperatures will be slightly cooler than last week. Forecasters expect today to be between 87 and 96 degrees. It will be between 88 and 97 degrees Wednesday.
In Los Angeles County, lightning-caused fires account for a small percentage of blazes. But fire officials watching over the Angeles National Forest say they’re ready in case dry lightning comes their way.
The U.S. Forest Service uses computer equipment to track lightning strikes. Infrared readings help them find any smoldering areas, said Stanton Florea, spokesman with the U.S. Forest Service. They also fly over the forest following a thunderstorm to check for fires.
In the past decade, the forest has had as many as 27 lightning strikes in a year and as few as three. But normally, they’re not a huge cause for concern because they strike in high elevations, away from roads and homes, Florea said.
“If there’s wind, then all bets are off,” he said.