We've been having a lot of thunderstorms here lately, so lightning strikes are common. On Friday driving into the next small town down from us, there was a strike in a paddock next to the road and whamm.....the grass ignited and burnt out about 10 acres in 5 mins! Luckily some rain followed and dampened everything down, but, without the rain, it would've been game on....a large amount of bush was only another 100 m away on rising ground........as in North Cal - I think things are only going to get worse - it's already been the worst year for fires here in WA and there are still some months to go.......