Kirk-Hare Fire, 1999

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• Thanks so much always, Kate, for you provocative posts. I was taking off ina jet plane, returning to my teaching job in Japan, when I saw the lightning strikes and wisps of smoke that would eventually become this conflagration.

  Be ever vigilant, Ms. Kate.
  Alex hulanicki

• Thank you, Alex. That was definitely an interesting night — leading into a month, then three!

• I’m from the midwest but had never seen such a spectacular lightning show before this night. The Kirk and Tassajara fires never connected but were all started by the same lightning storm. I recorded 3/4” of rain that night from a downpour that, I contend, extinguished fires ignited by the numerous downstrikes I saw above my house midway between the Kirk and Tassajara fires. I’ve never searched but wonder how much rain fell that night at Mining ridge and Anderson peak.

• I recall the night well - living at Hastings Reserve - it seemed there was a strike every 8 seconds or so - at least when I was timing it and it kept me up all night. Dry lightning for the most part. Super scary.