WENATCHEE - Lightning storms that passed over North Central Washington during the past 24 hours ignited more than 30 fires in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
     All of these fires are burning on national forest lands located in the Methow Valley and Tonasket Ranger Districts, a forest service announcement said.
     Most fires are less than a tenth of an acre and are staffed by firefighting personnel. The largest fire is a 10-acre blaze burning in the Benson Creek drainage approximately eight miles southeast of the town of Twisp. No structures or towns are threatened by the fires.
     A fire burning in the Castle Peak area of the Pasayten Wilderness three miles south of the US-Canadian border will be fought by both Canadian and American resources, the announcement said.
     The 162-acre Shull Ridge fire, burning in the Pasayten Wilderness 22 miles northwest of Mazama, will continue to be monitored and evaluated on a daily basis.
     Lightning-ignited fires smoldering since yesterday will become more active and visible as weather conditions grow warmer and drier today.
Crews will continue to respond to fires as they are detected.
     The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning for abundant lightning strikes and thunderstorms; this warning will be in effect for northeastern Washington until 8 p.m. tonight.
-Prepared by Omak Chronicle staff