Meteor lights up the sky

According to the American Meteor Society, there have been nearly 200 fireball reports from Western Canada and Northwest U.S.A., spotted at 10:14 p.m. on Sept. 4. Although most of the sightings were from Canada, reports have come on from Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

There were many sightings by people here in Boundary County and the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls regarding the flash of light. It was originally thought to be heat lightning, and South Boundary Fire Protection District and North Bench Fire District were dispatched to search for possible fires.

According to the American Meteor Society’s website, as of September 5, the estimated trajectory of the fireball’s travel was from a southeastern direction towards the northwest, possibly entering the atmosphere near the town of Boswell, and terminating near Meadow Creek, British Columbia.