Jacks Valley Road fire at 700 acres, winds calming; cause unknown at this time
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Wed, 06/09/2021 - 3:48pm
UPDATE 10:43PM: Forest Service Incident Command reports 75 percent containment as of Wednesday night. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No word yet on damage to structures.
UPDATE: 8:40 p.m: With gusty winds settling down, so is the smoke around the Jacks Valley Fire area. Go here for updates from Douglas County Emergency Management. Go here for real-time photos from alertwildfire.org and here for Forest Service incident command.
UPDATE 8:00 p.m.: Douglas County issued the following statement via their Facebook page:
A brush fire started in the Douglas County Jacks Valley area on June 9, 2021. The cause is unknown at this time. Currently structures are threatened and voluntary evacuations have been issued.
Acres: Approximately 700 ( as of 7:47 pm June 9, 2021)
Structure Loss: Unknown
Voluntary Evacuations: Arcadia, Pawnee, Cherokee, Green Acres, all areas South of Jacks Valley Rd, North of Colma, West of 395.
Road Closures: Jacks Valley Rd. remains closed at this time.
Evacuation Center: Douglas County Community and Senior Center
Please remain alert and stay vigilant. Windy conditions can cause the fire to change directions. Please listen to emergency responders and be ready to go if you live near the area.
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UDPATE 7:40 p.m.: All open flame in the area of James Lee Park has been knocked down. Heavy smoke remains.
UPDATE 7:09 p.m.: The fire is 150 yards away from homes near James Lee Park. Heavy traffic is making it very difficult for first responders to access the fire. Please stay off of the roads at this time.
UPDATE 7:02 p.m.: Vista Grande is being closed from Mica to James Lee Park.
UPDATE 6:40 p.m.: A second urban wild land fire has been reported in the area of 68 Connor Way, located in the area south of Ruhenstroth and Carter Springs.
UPDATE 6:18 p.m.: Evacuations are ordered for the neighborhood south of Mica Drive, including the apartment complexes there.
Second photo by Ben Spence of Jack's Valley Fire
UPDATE 5:51 p.m.: Volunteer evacuations are currently underway for the North side of Jack's Valley Road for Valley Crest, Silverado, Meadow Vista, Vista Park, and Valley Vista.
UPDATE 5:33 p.m.: The areas of Jack’s Valley Road and Arcadia, Green Acres, and Pawnee are being evacuated, effective immediately. The power company is deenergizing lines. Traffic closure is also happening at Genoa Lakes. Go here to see real-time photos of the growing fire via alertwildfire.org.
Go here for updates from Douglas County emergency management.
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UPDATE 5:17 p.m.: A strike team was called in for support, per Douglas County dispatch. Command is set up near the elementary school. The fire was reportedly west of Jacks Valley Elementary School and was being fueled by gusty winds.
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Douglas County, Lyon County and Carson City fire crews have responded Wednesday afternoon to a well-established and growing brush fire on Jacks Valley Road in Douglas County.
It is unknown at this time how many, if any, homes or structures are immediately threatened. The fire was reported shortly before 4:30 p.m.
Jacks Valley Road was closed by Nevada Highway Patrol while fire crews tackle the fire.
Updates to follow.
