Lightning sparks new fire between Plains and Thompson Falls

**FIRE UPDATE SANDERS COUNTY**

The U.S. Forest Service has crews on the ground in Sanders County for the Sheep Gap fire that sparked up overnight due to lightening strikes. The fire sits SW of Plains between the towns of Thompson Falls and Plains.

John Hamilton of the U.S. Forest Service Plains Department said there will be a fixed wing plane looking to take off from Plains in a short while to go and look for further spot fires. At this time of 8:45am, there is still lightening activity in the area.

Crew numbers are lower than normal as fire fighters are spread out helping on other blazes in neighboring counties. The possibility of ordering further man power and also air attack will be confirmed later in the day.

Sheep Gap at this stage is uncontrolled and has burned a couple hundred acres overnight.

Further updates will come as information is received from the U.S. Forest Service Plains Department.