A late summer storm, bringing light rain, thunder and lightning to the region, has also sparked several fires. The lightning strikes have resulted in multiple grass and brush fires, in Calaveras, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, with the largest one reported at over 400 acres in the area of Highway 4. There were evacuation warnings issued for an area north of Highway 4 in the Calaveras-Stanislaus county area with CHP requested to shut down Highway 4 at Telegraph Road and PG&E asked to shut down power in the area.

Multiple air units, dozers, fire trucks and crews from a number of departments have been assigned. Motorists should be advised that road closures are possible, depending on the direction the fires take.

The first fires were reported in the Linden and Eugene areas around 7 a.m., with additional lightning strikes touching off smaller fires.

Small amounts of rain were reported overnight, with about a tenth of an inch falling across the region.