July 9th, 2007
Fire fighters continued to battle two fires in Elko County today.
The Highway 93 Complex consisting of the West Basin Fire and the Eccles Fire has burned an estimated 59,000 acres and continues to grow.
The Type I Incident Management Team (Broyles) is managing the fires. Suppression operations will be conducted in both day and night operational periods. On the West Basin Fire, resources will continue to mop up hot spots on the north and east flanks of the fire.
On the southern edge, resources will work from east to west to secure the line. Fire activity on a large unburned area to the north of this line will depend on afternoon fire behavior.
On the Eccles Fire, resources will continue working on holding the line at Bell Canyon Road while securing the west flank. Work will also continue on holding the southern perimeter in the area referred to as the Volcano.
The complex is estimated at 10% contained and is burning in sagebrush, grass, and juniper. 169 personnel are assigned to this complex with more equipment and crews arriving. The fire will be aerially mapped today.
The fire complex continues to threaten the California National Historic Trail. Smoke warnings remain in effect for travelers on U.S. Highway 93.
People are advised that there will be increased emergency vehicle/fire fighting traffic on Highway 93 and to be careful. For more information on the Highway 93 Complex also visit the National Incident Fire Website at www.inciweb.org.
"We're starting to get more resources from outside the area into Elko County which is a big plus," said Elko Interagency Dispatch Center Manager Bill Roach. "It allows us to get our local resources back and available for initial attack for any new fire starts."
Roach added that fire fighting agencies are urging people to remain cautious with outside activities that can cause sparks and to continue to make homes and property fire safe and defensible.
Fire restrictions in northern and central Nevada that will be in effect until further notice. Lands involved include federal, state, tribal, and the Humboldt, Pershing, Lander, Eureka, Elko, Esmeralda, and Nye County Fire Protection Districts and portions of Washoe, Lyon, Churchhill, and White Pine counties.
For more specific information go to:
To report wildfires call (775) 738-FIRE, (775) 748-4000, or 911.
Fire fighters in Elko County are making progress on area wildfires.
"We're holding our own and making good progress on this series of fires in Elko County," said Nevada Division of Forestry Fire Management Officer Sam Hicks. "More resources are arriving and are giving us a much needed hand."
The West Basin Fire is currently burning about 4 - 5 miles east of Jackpot and has grown to 50,000 acres and crossed into Idaho. A Type I Incident Management Team (Broyles) is transitioning on the fire with the Type III Team (Petersen) currently on scene.
The fire is estimated at 15% contained and is burning in sagebrush, grass, and juniper. 119 fire fighters are fighting the fire. The fire is threatening the California National Historic Trail. Smoke warnings remain in effect for travelers on U.S. Highway 93.
The Eccles Fire is burning about 30 miles northeast of Wells in sagebrush, grass, pinion, and juniper. The fire grew rapidly yesterday and is currently estimated at 8,000 acres and 15% contained. Broyles Type I Incident Management Team will assume responsibility for the Eccles Fire as well as the West Basin Fire.
The Harrison Fire is burning on both sides of Harrison Pass about 30 miles southwest of Elko. The fire is estimated at 375-400 acres. Fire fighters are getting a handle on the Harrison Fire and resources are being demobilized to help with other fires.
The 1,000-acre Mile Marker 288 Fire is burning 12 miles west of Elko on the north side of I-80 threatening the Interstate, the California National Historic Trail, and the California Trail Center currently under construction. It is estimated at 10% contained.
I-80 is currently open.
"In situations like these with multiple fires, we cannot overstress the importance of fire fighter and public safety," said Nevada Division of Forestry State Forester Pete Anderson. "Travelers need to watch out for smoky conditions - especially on I-80 and U.S. 93. We recommend people call for road information before leaving home on a trip. Call 877-687-6237 for current Nevada road conditions."
Fire restrictions are in effect for all public lands in northeastern Nevada and all open burning is banned in Elko County.
To report wildfires call (775) 738-FIRE, (775) 748-4000, or 911.
Andrew Schneider and Greg Knight, News 4
Firefighters near Winnemucca are working on two fires right now. The Thomas fire is burning just south of the Grass Valley area in far-northern Nevada.
The fire is about 5,000 acres and evacuations have been ordered for several blocks in Grass Valley and in the Water Canyon section of Winnemucca.
Firefighters are also working on a 20,000 acre brush fire near Imlay, about 30 miles south of Winnemucca. They are calling it the Tungsten fire.
So far the Tungsten fire has destroyed one outbuilding and a mine.
Both fires are sending thick smoke into the air as they sweep across brush and grass rangelands.
There is no containment estimate on either fire.
A fast moving storm cell left at least four wildfires in its wake in Elko County on Friday afternoon. The lightning-caused Barth Fire has burned approximately 7,000 acres in sagebrush and grass approximately five miles southwest of Carlin, Nevada.
Two structures and several outbuildings have burned. I-80 was closed for a period of time Friday night between Carlin and Battle Mountain. The highway is threatened again today. The burned structures were trailers and it is not know currently if they were primary residences. There are no reports of injuries.
Fire engines and crews from the Crescent Valley Volunteer Fire Department (VFD), Carlin VFD, Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Forest Service responded to the Barth Fire.
The heat wave is fueling wildfires across the West today.
Lightning has sparked about a dozen fires in northern Nevada, charring some 55 square miles as temperatures push 100 in Elko.
The largest has burned 23,000 acres along the Idaho border. Officials says it's about ten percent contained. A second blaze shut down a section of Interstate 80 for about six hours, but it's now 40 percent contained.
High temperatures and low humidity are also stoking three wildfires in a popular wilderness park in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. Lightning strikes also ignited those fires, which have burned more than 17-thousand acres in the Inyo National Forest.
A Colorado blaze has destroyed three buildings, including a house. And a fire in central Utah has forced the evacuation of a power plant and is threatening homes, rail line and bridges.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
In addition the Eureka County Sheriff's Office and City of Carlin have provided people and resources to the fire fighting effort. The West Basin Fire is currently burning about six miles southeast of Jackpot, Nevada.
The fire is burning in sagebrush and grass and is currently estimated at 7,000 acres and it 10% contained. The Jackpot VFD, four BLM engines, two NDF engines, and one helicopter are currently on the scene.
A Type III Fire Management Team is enroute to the fire which is threatening two ranches near Jackpot. Smoke warnings are in effect for travelers on U.S. Highway 93 near Jackpot. Two additional fires were reported near Montello and Midas.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect for Elko County for Saturday, July 7 from 8 am to 7 pm. To report wildfires call (775) 738-FIRE, (775) 748-4000, or 911.
Greg Knight. News 4
Hundred-degree temperatures gave way to thunderstorms packing lightning across northern Nevada yesterday, sparking more than a dozen brush fires from the Sierra and Plumas Counties in California to Elko County in Nevada.
The biggest so far has burned 3,000 acres in Elko County about five miles southwest of Carlin. At last word, it was burning toward US Interstate 80.
In western Nevada's Douglas County, a fire that started about two o'clock yesterday afternoon has burned at least 650 acres about 60 miles south of Reno and northwest of Topaz Lake.
At one point, the fire jumped Nevada State Route 208, forcing evacuations of homes (along Albite Road) and the closure of the state route at it's juncture with US Highway 395.
But fire officials say a change in the wind helped 150 firefighters, two airtankers and three helicopters halt the fire's northern advance yesterday evening, sending the flames back toward the lake away from homes.
They considered about 50 structures to be "potentially threatened" at last report.
The Red Cross set up temporary shelters at Douglas High School in Minden and Smith Valley High School in Smith.
At least a half-dozen smaller fires were touched off north of Reno. Some residents in the Red Rocks area voluntarily evacuated for a few hours before rain started to fall and firefighters got the upper hand in the evening.
Further to the north, across the California line in the Plumas National Forest, about 600 firefighters continue to battle a fire that has burned about 11,000-acres since lightning touched it off last night.
That series of fires called the Antelope Complex is about 30 miles south of Susanville, California. The main fire is five miles south of Antelope Lake, where a popular campground has been evacuated.
According to Plumas County Supervisor Robert Meacher, several recreational homes on the southeast corner of Antelope Lake burned, but firefighters were able to save them with the use of retardant.
Stay with News 4 and www.krnv.com for the latest on Northern Nevada's Season of Fire.
