Emergency issued for Lightning Complex Fire in Fresno County; Supervisors special session

Fresno County Administrative Officer Paul Nerland Thursday morning declared a Local Emergency due to the rapid growth of the Lightning Complex Fire burning in eastern Fresno County.

The system of fires, including the 3,600-acre Flash Fire, 5,300-acre Bolt Fire and the 266-acre Hog Fire, grew to a total of nearly 10,000 acres by Thursday morning and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office was closely monitoring the blazes for the possibility of ordering more evacuations.

Firefighters also reported that the Flash Fire and the Bolt Fire had merged.

Highway 180 was closed between Cove and Dunlap.

Nerland said the Board of Supervisors would convene a special meeting Friday afternoon to vote on a proclamation of a Local Emergency to ensure specific liability protection for residents, grant emergency powers to the county emergency services director and facilitate state and federal assistance.

An estimated 1,000 lightning strikes struck the foothills during a thunderstorm Monday, sparking multiple fires in the area. One of the blazes that erupted near Bear Mountain also damaged communications transmitters.

Other lightning-sparked fires are burning nearby in the Sierra National Forrest, including the Basin Fire in the High Sierra Ranger District. Rangers say the blaze has consumed nearly 3,000 acres in grass and timber. Firefighters are trying to keep the blaze north of the Kings River.

Smoke from the fires prompted The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to warn an Air Quality Alert. Residents were cautioned to consider staying indoors to minimize exposure to particulates.