Lightning strikes spark two fires

U.S. Forest fire crews attended two small fires on Thursday- both believed to have been started by a lightning strike earlier in the week.

Kootenai National Forest spokesperson Willie Sykes said the fires – one near Ziegler Mountain Fire Lookout and one on Inch Mountain – were about an acre each and were not difficult to contain. 

A similar fire was also discovered in the Cow Creek area last Thursday. The Cow Creek fire was also started by a lightning strike, Sykes said.

Sykes said the fires were definitely not related to the seven spot fires in the Bear Creek area on July 6 that are being treated as suspicious.

Sykes said those fires are still being investigated as possible arsons, but no arrests had been made.