Lightning Fires Continue to Burn in Western Trinity County, Thunderstorms in the Forecast

Firefighters are battling several small wildfires sparked by a series of lightning-producing storms that swept through northern California on Monday, according to the U.S. Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The fires, located between Denny and Forest Glen in western Trinity County, range from single-tree ignitions to fires covering up to five acres.

The fires include the Swede Fire (5 acres), Miller Fire (5 acres), Willow Fire (0.5 acre), Fork Fire (0.25 acre), Allen Fire (0.25 acre), Denny Fire (0.1 acre), and the Gap Fire (single tree). Crews are using both ground and aerial resources to suppress the fires and continue patrolling by land and air to locate any additional starts.

“These fires follow a period of significant lightning activity across northern California, with over 6,700 strikes reported on Monday,” the agency noted on its Facebook page. Officials warn that more thunderstorms are expected through Wednesday, raising the possibility of new fire starts in the coming days.

A Trinity County resident, close to the Miller Fire, described challenging conditions for firefighting crews. “It is in a mix of plantation that is way too packed and old growth snags from the 2008 canopy fire,” the resident said. “A lot have already fallen over—so 250-foot, 6-foot diameter trees on their side all over with a lot still wanting to come down and DENSE underbrush.”

As of 9 p.m. last night, the Miller Fire had two Hotshot crews—Mad River and Trinity—along with one dozer on site. Air operations continued even after sunset. By this afternoon, firefighters had completed a hose lay and were in the mop-up phase, according to the Miller Place resident.

Meanwhile, the U.S. National Weather Service Eureka office warned on social media that more showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and early evening, particularly in Trinity County. “Small hail, erratic gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall are expected with the stronger storms,” the service stated. Residents are urged to watch the radar and move indoors if a storm is approaching.

Firefighters remain on high alert, working to keep the fires contained and prepared to respond to any new starts amid the unstable weather.

Earlier: Miller Fire Ignites in Trinity County Following Lightning Storm

Update: Miller Fire Grows to 20 Acres in Steep Trinity Terrain; Crews Continue Full Suppression Efforts