NORTH COAST, Calif. – A complex of fires sparked by lightning early Wednesday near Laytonville grew by hundreds of acres on Thursday.
The three-fire Lodge Lightning Complex is located in the Wilderness Lodge area on Bell Springs Road, two miles west of Highway 101.
Cal Fire reported that the complex was 83 acres early Thursday, but by nighttime the fires had ballooned to 550 acres.
The fires are burning in heavy timber with steep, rugged terrain and difficult access, with firefighters being challenged by dry fuel conditions, above-normal temperatures and low daytime relative humidity, according to Cal Fire.
As a result, Cal Fire said firefighters were deploying aggressive air and ground strategies.
No structures are threatened and no injuries have occurred, Cal Fire said.
On Thursday 10 fire engines, 19 fire crews, four bulldozers, three air tankers, five helicopters, three water tenders and 452 personnel were assigned to the Lodge Complex, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said still more resources are expected to be on scene on Friday.
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