NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Lightning is being blamed for about a third of the wildland fires that burned around California this past week.

More than 225 new fires burned just over 1,000 acres over the past week, Cal Fire reported.

Early in the week, 2,800 lightning strikes sparked approximately 73 of the week’s fires, most of which were contained at small spots, according to the agency.

The largest of the lightning fires was the Gopher Fire, which Cal Fire said burned 75 acres in Calaveras County and was 100 percent contained July 23.

Also contained over the last week were the Amador Lightning Complex, which included 19 fires that burned 41 acres; the Paskenta Fire in Tehama County, which burned 300 acres; and the Penn Fire in Calaveras County, 134 acres.

Officials are anticipating a continued drying trend and the potential for thunderstorms over the coming week, and are urging people to be careful when clearing vegetation.

See Cal Fire’s full Fire Situation Report above.