An unusual monsoon pattern is bringing the chance for rare July thunderstorms to the Southland. Meteorologists say the biggest concern is dry lightning starting a fire.

Green Fire initially started 9:37 p.m. July 1 in Shasta County, California. Since its discovery 16 days ago, it has burned 17,288.2 acres. By Thursday evening, the fire crew managed to contain 17% of this wildfire. Authorities believe that lightning triggered the fire.

It’s very important in a crisis that people stay in contact,” Mayor Paul Coogan said in a wide-ranging interview from his office Friday.

The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs said Friday that it will take 12-14 months and cost $50 to $60 million to repair the new state veterans home damaged in a fire this spring. The Bennie G. Adkins State Veterans Home in Enterprise had about 90 occupants when the fire struck on April 16.

Fire crews working across western Colorado made more progress containing and slowing the growth of several wildfires Thursday.

The building was surrounded by vegetation on fire when a team of "helitack" firefighters arrived to protect the area on Tuesday. Grand Canyon National Park officials said the crews knew if the pump house fell, the consequences could cripple park operations for months.

After the Butler Fire crossed the Salmon River, more evacuations were ordered Thursday night in the mountains of Siskiyou County. The wildfire, sparked by lightning on July 3, had burned 11,641 acres (18 square miles) and was 2% contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. It is the larger fire in the Orleans Complex.