Lightning sparks California Wildfires

Thunderstorms sparked fires in central and northern California following a hot and dry Labor Day weekend.

The WeatherRadar picked up the thunderstorms on Tuesday that sparked dozens of blazes in central and northern California. Tuolumne and Calaveras counties in the Sierra Foothills have been particularly hard hit, with these fires referred to as the TCU September Lightning Complex.

These intense fires prompted evacuations in the city of Chinese Camp, Calif. Visitors to Yosemite National Park were warned of poor air quality as the wildfire smoke drifted into the park.

Fire concerns are in place across portions of central and eastern Washington today, where dry lightning may spark more wildfires. Lingering air quality concerns will also impact parts of California and the Pacific Northwest into the weekend.