Our California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) members who worked tirelessly from Wednesday through the weekend monitoring and moving emergency fire resources throughout the state, are now keeping a watchful eye on lightning strikes in Northern California.

“I want to acknowledge our CSLEA members in the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) who are coordinated crews and emergency response, our members who were a part of strike teams and were on the fire lines, our CALFIRE communications operators, our CHP public safety dispatchers, our CCC conservationists who were  called upon to lead their crews in firefighting and camp support,” said CSLEA President Alan Barcelona.  “I fear they are all going to be stretched thin this fire season.  They are public safety professionals who give it their all to save homes and to save lives. “

In a 24 hour period ending at 7:30 this morning, more than 800 lightning strikes were recorded in Northern California.  One hundred and 15 were positive lightning strikes which are considered more dangerous than negative lightning strikes.  Positive lightning strikes can have a peak charge ten times greater than negative lightning strike and have the potential for creating forest fires and power line damage. 

With the cooler, damper weather, the fires are subsiding but the potential for danger is still present.  The Springs Fire in Ventura County (28,000 acres) is now 80% contained.  The Panther in Butte County (6,864 acres) is now 60 percent contained.