HOPE — A wildfire in the Lightning Creek drainage has quickly grown since it was first reported late Wednesday, July 30, and is now estimated at 200-250 acres, thanks in part to storm systems that moved through the region this week, U.S. Forest Service officials said Saturday.

Engines were dispatched, but terrain, access and nighttime visibility prevented any action on the fire located about 8 miles east/northeast of Hope, said Kary Maddox, USFS fire information officer. The next morning, the fire was estimated about a half-acre.

Engines and a module of firefighters were able to take direct suppression action, digging fire line around half the fire but crews were unable to complete due to location, vegetation, terrain and abundant snag hazards in the 2018 Cougar Fire scar, Maddox said.

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