A severe lightning storm started a number of fires in nearby counties over the past weekend, but Amador County went relatively unscathed. Minor fires broke out in Amador’s higher elevations, although these were small-scale blazes compared to those in neighboring counties. Approximately 23 wild land fires dotted Calaveras and El Dorado Counties as a result of Saturday’s lightning storm. The primary fires of concern were the 30-acre Soldier fire, located 3 miles northeast of Pollock Pines and north of Highway 50, and the 20-acre Capps fire halfway between Highway 50 and Highway 88 in the vicinity of the Capps Crossing campground. The Soldier fire threatened homes and a Natural Research Area. Both of these fires were contained by Sunday. Meanwhile, firefighters across Northern California have been battling merciless fires that have been feeding off the bone-dry landscape. Along California’s Coast, three massive wildfires have been contained. A 23,000 acre fire that has destroyed 50 homes has yet to be contained in Humboldt County; a 4000 acre blaze is approaching containment in Napa County, and a 600 acre fire burns in Santa Cruz. As a result of the statewide blazes, local air quality is at a poor level. Amador’s Air Quality District is advising more sensitive groups to take caution because of the high particulate levels in the local air.