|
|
Fire scorches western Nevada; some residents evacuated
|
|
August 6, 1996
Web posted at: 9:35 a.m. EDT
(CNN) -- A wind-whipped wildfire has devoured 6,000 acres of
trees and brush in western Nevada and forced some residents
to flee their expensive homes. The fire was 40 percent
contained by Tuesday morning, officials said. (318K QuickTime movie)
Officials say they believe people caused the fire, which started around 4 p.m. Monday near Verdi, close to the California border, and was spread by winds of up to 30 mph. The specific cause was under investigation.
Winds Tuesday morning were calm, but the forecast called for them to blow between 5 and 15 mph during the day with temperatures of 87-106 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dense smoke from the wildfires closed Interstate 80, the main highway connecting northern California and Nevada, for five hours Monday afternoon.
But the main threat from the blaze has been to subdivisions near Reno. The fire threatened 70 to 80 houses in the Caughlin Ranch development, according to Lt. Geoff Wise, a spokesman for the Washoe County Sheriff's Department in Nevada. Firefighters battled to keep the blaze away as flames moved within a half-mile of the structures.
Voluntary evacuations of Caughlin Ranch and other developments have taken place, though some residents returned to their homes when the danger appeared to have eased. Evacuated residents are being housed in shelters set up by local authorities.
Officials at the scene report that one structure had been destroyed and several damaged, though it was not clear whether they were isolated buildings or part of a subdivision. No one has been reported injured.
Wise, however, said, "It is a very tense situation," and that the fire "could easily go around and threaten more homes on the edge of the city of Reno."
Eight air tankers, several helicopters and more than 60 fire engines are being used to fight the fire. Tankers bombarded the area with fire retardant Monday until they were grounded by darkness. Flights against the fire resumed Tuesday morning.
Personnel from Nevada, California and federal agencies are working together to fight the fires, with reinforcements being rushed from as far away as Idaho.
Officials said their priority is to protect life and
property, and said they cannot yet predict when the fire will
be under control. (219K QuickTime movie)
Farther east, fires consumed 100,000 acres in remote areas of Utah, while blazes also cropped up in Wyoming, Colorado and California.
The annual fire season in the Western states got under way much earlier than usual this year, because vegetation was dry in several states hit by drought.
Related stories:
- Brush fires threaten California wine country - August 1, 1996
- Illegal immigrants take heat for California wildfires - July 28, 1996
- California brush fire fully contained - July 23, 1996
Related sites:
- California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
- A Hot Shot Photo Journal
- Department of Interior; National Interagency Fire Center
- Helitack Web Page (Firefighters that lower themselves by rope from a helicopter)
- Smokejumper Web Page
- International Helicopter Firefighters Assoc.
|
Tell us what you think! You said it... |
|
|
© 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.