Cedar Mountain Fire responds to lightning strike ignition; second fire in two weeks

A fire started near Duck Creek and Swains Creek around 3 p.m. on Wednes­day, June 4, prompting an emergency response from the Cedar Mountain Fire Protection District. According to representa­tives from the district, the response was by the book, in collaboration with the Forest Service in the area, and the fire was contained before it could spread and do any major damage.

The lightning strike fire was contained within a few hours of ignition. Photo via Cedar Mountain Fire Protection District.

This is the second fire in the area in a short period of time, as only a few days before a fire sparked in the community burn pit on Cedar Mountain; the pit, normally a place for locals to dispose of cleared branches and flammable debris for the fire service to take from, was poten­tially exposed to heated materials or spontaneous combustion which required immediate response from the fire district; the fire was contained within the hour, with representatives from the Fire District thanking the Western Kane County Special Service District (WKCSSD), who manage the burn pit, for equipment on hand.

According to the WKC­SSD efforts are underway to more clearly designate the pit’s proper use - the pit was closed for a few days following the accidental ignition, and coincidentally opened again on June 4, the same day as the lightning strike fire further up the mountain.