Lightning starts dozens of wildfires

WENATCHEE – Lightning sparked dozens of fires in the state this week, including a 150-acre blaze near Winthrop.

The Spur Peak Fire was burning out of control in dense, beetle-killed trees about 16 miles northeast of Winthrop on Wednesday.

Forest Service spokeswoman Debbie Kelly said six smokejumpers dropped into the site on Tuesday but were pulled out. Two loads of retardant did little to slow the blaze through dead timber, Kelly said.

The Forest Service has requested helicopters, two 20-person crews and two Hot Shot crews to attack the fire.

A summer storm on the eastern slopes of the Cascades unleashed 924 lightning strikes in the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests from Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning, said Robin DeMario, spokeswoman for the two forests.

Lightning on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday sparked more than 50 fires in the area, DeMario said.

Except for Spur Peak, none of the fires were larger than five acres, she said.

More thunderstorms were expected tonight, said John Fox, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Spokane.