Firefighters make progress on Numbers Fire south of Gardnerville, 20 containment
Firefighters continue to make progress on the Numbers Fire southeast of Gardnerville, reaching 20 percent containment as of Wednesday evening.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has estimated the fire to be 18,299 acres. Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center has the fire at 20,500 acres. Multiple local, state and federal fire agencies are assisting and there are numerous fire apparatus and firefighters working on the scene.
The Bureau of Land Management has adjusted its previous numbers regarding structures and damage. Three structures have been lost, along with 37 outbuildings. Go here for the most recent update.
Equipment on scene includes dozers, hand crews and aircraft.
Highway 395 re-opened Wednesday afternoon. All evacuations have been lifted. The cause of the fire, which began Monday night, is unknown at this time.
There was concern Wednesday morning that the fire was moving into the Smith Valley area. On Wednesday afternoon Lyon County Manager Jeff Page noted Smith Valley Fire Protection District reports that the fire is looking much better and that the fire behavior was more favorable Wednesday afternoon, with a diminishing threat to Lyon County.
Check back for updates.
UPDATE 12:24PM From Douglas County: The Numbers Fire, currently burning 10 miles SE of Gardnerville, is 18,299 acres and 20 percent contained. Great Basin Team 4, a Type 2 Incident Management Team, assumed command of the Numbers Fire this morning. The Team will work closely with local land managers and agencies to ensure the protection of the local communities and resources.
Today, crews are being flown to the upper ridgeline of the Pine Nut Mountains to limit fire spread over the ridge to the east and into Smith Valley. Right now, this is the area of greatest concern for additional fire growth. Helicopters will support these crews by dropping water from buckets and delivering supplies.
Additional firefighting resources will continue to secure and patrol existing firelines and respond to any adjacent fire activity. In some areas, where containment is certain, crews and equipment will begin to repair suppression actions. This includes rehabilitation of ground moved by dozers to create fireline.
The weather over the fire area today is expected to be hot, dry and breezy. A Red Flag Warning — an indicator of critical fire weather conditions that could lead to increased fire activity — has been issued for the fire area. The pattern of high temperatures and low relative humidity is expected to continue for several days.
The Team is working at the firecamp based at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Please be aware of increased fire traffic in these areas, especially during the morning and evening hours, and limit use of Pine Nut 2 and Blossom Canyon Roads to residents only. The fire crews are well supplied with food, water, and other necessities.
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