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Storm watch

by JEFF SELLE/jselle@cdapress.com
| August 13, 2014 9:00 PM

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<p>From left, Stephen Bottoms, Shirley Welker, Katie and Lori Lynch briskly walk along the sidewalk near Second Street after crossing Sherman Avenue Tuesday during a sudden storm in Coeur d’Alene.</p>

COEUR d'ALENE - Lightning from a storm early Tuesday morning ignited two small fires that burned less than an acre, and fire officials are concerned today's weather may bring more.

According to Shane O'Shea, assistant fire warden for the Idaho Department of Lands, there were eight lightning strikes from the storm that blew through Kootenai County Tuesday morning.

"Only two of those materialized as fires," he said, adding one was located in the Chilco area and the other was on U.S. Forest Service land near Nunn Road.

O'Shea said the Chilco fire was in the IDL's jurisdiction, but forest service fought the other fire.

"The Chilco fire wasn't very big," he said. "It was only about 20 feet wide and about 40 feet long."

He said the Nunn Road fire was similar in size.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for most of North Idaho through 5 p.m. today.

O'Shea said the lightning activity level is expected at a level three.

"That means that lightning will definitely occur, but that will come with precipitation," he said, adding a level five or six is considered the more dangerous dry lightning.

"We don't know how widespread it is going to be," O'Shea said, but the added rains should help firefighters control any potential fires.

Milder weather has helped with several North Idaho fires started by a lightning storm last week. O'Shea said they are finally wrapping up this week, and summer temperatures are predicted to return to the 80s late this week.

"We will have more seasonable temps," he said.

Meanwhile, Avista Utilities geared up Tuesday afternoon with extra crews to deal with potential power outages.

"Avista Utilities is assessing the status of crews, both our own line crews as well as contract crews that may be called into service," Avista said in a press release. "We have expedited the delivery of materials to restock those used in the two previous storms.

"We will keep a close eye on the weather and will assess the need for additional staff resources in our call center as the evening goes on," the release said.

There was a 40 percent chance of rain earlier this morning, which should taper to a 20 percent chance later today. Winds are expected to be relatively mild, O'Shea said.

His fire weather report said sustained winds are expected at 2 to 5 mph.

"Those are eye-level winds, meaning on the ground level," he said, adding the winds at higher levels could be much more unstable.