PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) - Lightning strikes set palm trees ablaze in Southern California desert areas as thunderstorms quickly rolled across the region.

Palm Springs fire Battalion Chief Jon Merriam says firefighters were called out before dawn Tuesday to 11 lightning-related incidents in about 2 1/2 hours.

The lightning was accompanied by heavy rain that helped keep the
palm tree fires from spreading. Merriam says one flaming palm tree
singed a home and caused minor damage. Power lines also arced but nobody was injured.

The Palm Springs Desert Sun reports that about 10 trees caught fire in the middle of the Indian Canyons golf course. Three more burned at the Seven Lakes Country Club.

The storms moved quickly through the area, heading north and east into Nevada and Arizona.

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