The Nation - News from Aug. 8, 1989

Thunderstorms with lightning but no rain moved toward western and central Idaho, where flames have already charred 105,000 acres. The Boise Interagency Fire Center, the national fire coordination center, said 23,000 firefighters were battling the worst of the fires on 182,000 acres, primarily in Idaho, Oregon and California. The center said the war has already cost over $27 million. More than 220,000 acres have been charred in a bout of mostly lightning-caused fires that began July 26. More than 3,000 lightning strikes were reported overnight in fire-plagued areas of the West.