[andi999]

Is there data from California about lightning as a fire cause? I read in Canada about 50% of all forest fires are started by lightning.

[gpapilion]

Coastal California lightning is rarer as is thunderstorms. Eastern California they are more common, but no where near Midwest levels.

The storm that can through last month started several of these fires with dry lightning or very little rain accompanying the lightning.

[dcanelhas]

Lightning may coincide with rainfall, I've heard. If this is true one might presume less severe fires as a result.

[mannykannot]

It is a simple fact that lightning does start fires, especially in places like the American west, where lightning is not always accompanied with much, or any, rainfall at ground level. The severity of any fire is determined by how it develops in the hours and days that follow its ignition, long after the storm has moved on or dissipated.

[dcanelhas]

That's not disputed. But starting a fire in completely dry conditions is worse than starting one that potentially coincides with rainfall, all other things being equal.

[andi999]

Falling from a height of 10.1m is also worse than falling from 10.0m all other things beeing equal

[Rapzid]

The LNU and SCU lightning complex fires have burned about 750,000 acres. The August complex(also started by lighting) has already burned 796,000 acres.