Lightning sparks fire near Plains

Plains Paradise Rural Fire District firefighters Garrett Boon (above left) and Seth Gibbs sift through burning pine needles to ensure a blaze started by lightning is extinguished. Marc and Ellen Childress, who live across the street, saw the ground fire and knocked down the flames before firefighters arrived last Thursday afternoon. A sudden burst of rain helped the couple douse the fire. High winds also broke the tree in the background, which took out the power lines (right) and left area residents without power until late that night.