Evacuation warnings issued as grass fires burn in Fresno County

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — Evacuation warnings have been issued as crews work to contain two grass fires that broke out Monday in Fresno County.

The first fire, which authorities are now calling the Flash Fire, broke out around 3 p.m. on East Kings Canyon Road near Cove Avenue.

The fire has since grown to 174 acres and is currently 0% contained.

Around 5:20 p.m., the Bolt Fire broke out in the area of ​​Palamino Drive and Elwood Road, near Wonder Valley Ranch. & Seaside resort.

The Bolt Fire has burned 120 acres of grass and is 0% contained.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office has issued evacuation warnings for two areas due to the fires.

The cause of both fires is still under investigation, but thunderstorms brought lightning to that area of ​​Fresno County earlier in the day.

Just a few miles from the fires, storms knocked out power to about 800 PG.&E customers in Yokuts Valley.

CAL FIRE reports there have been more than 1,000 lightning strikes in Fresno County in the past two hours.

Crews are working to contain at least three other grass fires in the county, including one that burned 140 acres near Muscat and Crawford.

Stay with Action News for the latest updates on this developing story.