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Aspen Fire Evacuations Continue, Reno/Sparks Air Quality Declines From Farad Fire

Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District via Twitter

10 am Tuesday:

Farad Fire:

Location: 13 Miles Northeast of Truckee at the Nev/Cal border.

Size: 600 acres

Percent Contained: 10%

Personnel: 200

According to YubaNet News, firefighters worked through the night to construct control lines.

There are no evacuation orders in effect, but patrols will monitor the seven identified threatened structures in the Gold Ranch and Verdi Peak area.

Interstate-80 is closed in both directions at the Nev/Cal stateline as fire crews take care of spot fires and clean debris off the highway.

Scott Fraser’s Sierra Front Incident Management Team assumes command of the fire at 7 am There are local, county, state and federal ground and air resources assigned to the fire.

Smoke from the fire will be a problem in the area Tuesday day and night.  As of 8 am, the air quality index is at 130, which is the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" range.  People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.

Southwest winds are forecast at 5-10 mph and humidity is at 29%, which should help firefighters today.

Aspen Fire

Location: Palomino Valley, a few miles north of Spanish Springs

Size: 315 acres

Percent Contained: 30%

Personnel: 140

Fire crews are continuing to battle the Aspen Fire that is burning near Quaking Aspen and Wilcox Ranch Rd. in Palomino Valley, according to Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District.

As of 8:30 a.m. on Monday, fire officials were urging residents and animals to evacuate due to the possibility for a flare up. 

All residents who are impacted by the fire can evacuate to the Equestrian Center on 5600 Whiskey Springs Rd. Both people and animals are accepted.

The incident management team, Great Basin Team 6, says the fire has now burned 350 acres and is 10 percent contained as of Monday, July 10.

Draw Fire

Location: About an hour east of Fallon

Size: 21,341 acres

Percent Contained: 10%

Personnel: 140

The fire first sparked 50 miles east of Fallon on Friday night. It's been burning through grass, sagebrush and timber litter, and crews have reached only 10 percent containment.

Authorities have been evacuating the community of Alpine, and the fire is threatening structures and critical infrastructure, according to the BLM.

Highway 50 has also been intermittently closed in the area of Eastgate due to the fire, and some high-energy transmission lines and poles have been damaged, with more threatened.

5:00 pm Monday:

The Aspen fire in Palomino Valley has burned 315 acres and is 10 percent contained, according to earlier estimates.

66 homes are threatened and Washoe County has made reverse 911 calls to residents of Palomino Valley who may be affected. Officials are strongly urging residents south of Quaking Aspen Road to Wilcox Road to evacuate.

A site has been opened for people and animals at the Ironwood Stables at 5600 Whiskey Springs Road in Palomino Valley.

A Red Flag warning is in effect from until 11 p.m. with southwest winds gusting 30 to 40 miles per hour, very low humidity, and temps near 97.

1:35 pm Monday:

The Aspen fire near Palomino Valley has burned 315 acres and is 10 percent contained. 

66 homes are now threatened.  

An evacuation order remains in place from Quaking Aspen Road to south of Wilcox Ranch Road.  Firefighters are strongly encouraging residents to evacuate.  An evacuation center for people and animals is open at the Ironwood Stables at 5600 Whiskey Springs Road in Palomino Valley.

Weather will be crucial in fighting the fire.  A Red Flag warning is in effect from until 11 p.m. with southwest winds gusting 30 to 40 miles per hour, very low humidity, and temps near 97.

The fire is burning in steep terrain with narrow roads.  Officials are concerned that if the fire flares up this afternoon, people trying to evacuate will clog the roads, making it difficult for fire crews to get to the fire.

As of noon on Monday, no structures have burned and no injuries had been reported.

4:30 am Sunday:

KOLO-TV is reporting that 15 homes are now threatened, all evacuated families are staying in hotels or with friends, and the Equestrian Center at 5600 Whiskey Springs Road in Reno has taken in several animals. 

8:30 pm Saturday: 

A new fire called the Aspen Fire is burning in the Palomino Valley, according to the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, which is responding with air and ground resources.

10 structures are threatened and there are evacuations on Tree Farm Road and the south side of Wilcox Canyon.

It has consumed 50 acres and is burning near Wilcox Ranch and Quaking Aspen roads. Please stay away from the area.

Washoe County animal control is helping with evacuations. An evacuation center has been established at Ironwood Stables at 5600 Whiskey Springs Rd, Reno.

This fire was started Saturday night by lightening near the site of the Winnemucca Ranch Fire.

The following information was released in a press release by Washoe County on July 7:

Summary: On July 5, 2017 Great Basin Incident Management Team 6 took over the management of Earthstone, Truckee, and Winnemucca Ranch fires. The fires grew quickly in the first two days carried by fine flashy fuels (mostly cheat grass) in a hot and dry environment. Isolated thunderstorms brought wind that continued to move the fire. Size of the fires are very approximate at this time. There are no road closures at this time and evacuations have been lifted for these three fires. Drones are prohibited in the fire area. Any drones found to be flying in the fire area will force the air resources fighting the fire to be grounded.

Earthstone Fire: Crews have worked hard to secure fire line around the southwest edge of the fire. They will continue to patrol and mop up within the fire. Most of the active burning now exists in the northeast portion of the fire toward Pond Peak. Fire resources will continue to mop up hot spots near structures in the communities of Olinghouse and Wadsworth and secure line around the fire in the northeast where the fire is most active. This fire has burned close to 34,000 acres and is 30% contained.

Truckee Fire: The most active portion of the fire is burning in the north and northeast sections. The fire broke through a portion of a dozer containment line moving the fire towards Warrior Peak. Retardant drops over the fire yesterday helped minimize the spread of the fire, and crews will concentrate on securing line in this section today. Residents should expect to see pockets of burning fuel from within the interior of the fire today. This fire has burned more than 83,000 acres and is 35% contained.

Winnemucca Ranch Fire: Fire resources have made excellent progress on this fire. There was no growth on the fire yesterday and crews are working hard to clean up interior burning as well as concentrating efforts on the southeast portion of the fire where there is still active burning. This fire has consumed 3,000 acres and is 55% contained.

9:45 am Thursday:

Winnemucca Ranch Fire:

Latest reports say the fire has burned roughly 3500 acres in the area around Winnemucca Ranch Road and Axe Handle Canyon Roads (north of Spanish Springs), and it is moving to the southeast. It’s 20 percent contained. Some structures are threatened and two homes have been destroyed.

Washoe County officials are asking Palomino Valley residents in the Ironwood, Amy, Hucksberry and Wilcox Ranch Road area to voluntarily evacuate if you see flames. There’s an evacuation center at Ironwood Events Center and Boarding at 5600 Whiskey Springs Road in Reno.

People can take their livestock and animals there, too. The Nugget and Atlantis Casinos are offering discounted rates to anyone who has evacuated due to fires in the region.

Earthstone Fire:

This fire sparked off Earthstone Drive in Sparks and has moved in a northeastern direction since July 3. Roughly 27,000 acres have burned with 30% containment. No structures are immediately threatened, but emergency management officials have made some voluntary evacuation requests in Olinhouse-Hooterville, which is north of Wadsworth. There is an evacuation center at Silverland Middle School which is located at 1100 Jasmine Lane in Fernley.

The Nevada Highway Patrol closed part of I-80 on Wednesday night because of the fire.

The City of Sparks is reporting that Golden Eagle Regional Park should reopen Thursday.

Truckee Fire:

Multiple agencies are reporting that the fire has burned about 71,000 acres between Wadsworth and Nixon over the past few days, with 35% contained. No structures are threatened.

The Truckee Fire is generating substantial smoke and will continue to blanket the Fernley area. Lyon County officials are advising that people with respiratory problems stay indoors and out of the smoke. They should consult with their health care provider if they are having any ill effects from the smoke and should contact their medical/oxygen equipment supplier to ensure they have sufficient supplies for the next several days.

Limerick Fire:

It’s located between Fernley and Lovelock, a few miles north of I-80. 11,000 acres have burned and 30% is contained. No structures are threatened.

4:45 pm Wednesday:

Evacuations are now underway in the Olinhouse-Hooterville area, which is 2 miles north of Wadsworth. That's according to Washoe County officials. The evacuation center for people in this area is Silverland Middle School in Fernley, at 1100 Jasmine Lane.

KOLO-TV is reporting that this evacuation is in response to the Earthstone Fire, which has burned 42 square miles near Wadsworth and is 30 percent contained.

The Reno Gazette Journal is also reporting that two homes on Amy Road were destroyed Wednesday afternoon by the Winnemucca Ranch Fire. 

3:45 pm Wednesday:

This information is from a press release from Washoe County:

Washoe County officials are asking residents in the Palomino Valley area to voluntarily evacuate their homes because of the Winnemucca Ranch Fire which has burned more than 3,500-hundred acres.

The voluntary evacuation area includes the following areas: The intersection of Amy Road and Ironwood Road to the northern mountain range and south to the volunteer fire station on Whiskey Road.

Officials say the fire is actively moving and firefighters are working diligently on both wildland and structure protection.

Structures have been affected but the structure type has not been confirmed.

Residents are encouraged to evacuate both private properties and animals to the evacuation center at the Ironwood Events Center which is at 5600 Whiskey Springs Rd.

Currently there are 100 animals in the shelter with room for additional evacuees and animals.

Fire suppression is being supported by multiple agencies and includes: 300 personnel, 55 engines on scene, 4 man crews and additional air craft support.

For additional information, please follow twitter feeds for @tmfpd and @washoecounty.

2:15 pm Wednesday

The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District is telling residents near the Winnemucca Ranch Fire in the Amy and Hucksberry Road area to evacuate to the evacuation center because fire is spreading rapidly.

KRNV TV is also reporting that there are evacuations on Ironwood and Wilcox roads.

The evacuation center is at the Equestrian Center at 5600 Whiskey Springs Road and animals can be brought there.

The fire is burning north of Spanish Springs and has consumed 1,500 acres of land. It's 20 percent contained.

Multiple fires are burning in the region, including the Truckee and Earthstone fires, but no other fires are threatening structures.