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Fire crews responded to about 16 fires across Moffat County Tuesday night that were caused by lightning strikes.

The largest blaze covered 35 acres about 12 miles north of Maybell, said Mike Rieser, an interagency fire officer with the Northwest Colorado Fire managing unit.

Seventeen engines, two helicopters and two ground crews responded to the fires that mostly were extinguished by Wednesday, he said. Four new fire starts were reported Wednesday. The fires were in remote areas and didn't threaten any homes or structures, Rieser said.

"It's a predictable start to the fire season," he said. "The winds and dry weather really ratchet up the season."

Rieser said much of Moffat County has "high fire currents" because it is experiencing its first monsoon weather of the season.

The weather brings high winds and precipitation, but in Moffat County the rainfall evaporates before it hits the ground, he said.

Drier than normal conditions also are responsible for an increase in fire starts.

A usual day consists of about 12 to 20 fires from lighting strikes, Rieser said.

The interagency fire unit has crews from around Colorado to help battle blazes on the area's Bureau of Land Management land. Moffat County has one of the highest rates of lightning strikes in nation, Rieser said.

Ten fire starts in an hour kept sheriff deputies busy Tuesday night, said Sgt. Tim Jantz of the Moffat County Sheriff's Office.

"People are getting pretty concerned when they see all the lightning and a couple columns of smoke," he said.