Lightning strikes fill Desert Southwest skies with smoke
Imperial National Wildlife Refuge confirms details
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Many woke to smoke-filled skies in the Desert Southwest Wednesday morning.
According to Imperial National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Administrator Elaine Johnson, lightning strikes caused a fire in the northern area of the Imperial Valley Tuesday afternoon.
Johnson confirmed the fire spread to both sides of the Colorado River, burning land in Yuma County too. As of now, the NWR estimates 800-1,000 acres have completely burned.
The fire is still active.
Bureau of Land Management and state fire crews are tackling the flames, Johnson adds.
The NWR clarifies: though it's a developing situation, no one at this time is in immediate danger.
While at 0% containment, officials expect that number to go up starting Thursday.
