Davis Fire update Tuesday: 5,596 acres, no containment, rare 'PDS' Red Flag Warning goes up
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 09/10/2024 - 10:00am
UPDATE 11:06 AM: The National Weather Service has not only issued a Red Flag Warning but has also issued at "Red Flag Warning, Particularly Dangerous Situation," for Wednesday. As NWS forecaster Edan Lindaman explained, the PDS is outside of the normal or typical Red Flag Warning. Due to the cold front moving in overnight into Wednesday, bringing 40 mph-plus winds, the level of measure is of critical concern elevated. Therefore, the Red Flag Warning PDS on Wednesday is from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The standard Red Flag Warning is underway today.
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UPDATE 10:33AM: The Davis Fire was mapped at 5,596 acres with no containment as of Tuesday morning, according to a briefing from U.S. Forest Service-Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
Fire crews continue to work on perimeter control today, especially in areas of high fire activity. All evacuations remain in place and areas under evacuation orders are closed to the public. There are no public escorts into the evacuated areas at this time due to fire activity.
There will be a community meeting Tuesday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m. at Depoali Middle School, 9300 Wilbur May Pkwy, Reno.
The following status update as of 10 a.m. Tuesday:
Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 assumed command of the Davis Fire at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9. Active fire behavior was seen along the southwestern portion of the fire yesterday in the vicinity of Mount Rose Highway. Aircraft were limited due to wind and smoke conditions, but crews were able to take advantage of natural features and roadways to directly attack the fire. There are 423 personnel on the fire. This includes 9 crews, 4 helicopters, 39 engines, 1 water tenders and 4 dozers.
Strike teams and engines from local jurisdictions were able to continue structure protection in and around all impacted communities and additional resources begin to arrive from around the country to support. Four super scooper aircraft have been assigned to the incident, increasing the speed at which water can be delivered to support firefighting efforts across the fire area.
Fire Activity: Overnight, crews and engines worked to construct direct line in areas around the south and western flanks of the fire but were challenged by very active fire behavior. A spot fire established in the lower portion of Browns Creek, east of Hidden Lake and crews were able to gain access and begin building line. Engines were also closely monitoring fire activity in and around communities, extinguishing any heat that could pose further risk to homes and property.
Today, along the north and eastern edges of the fire, crews and engines will continue to monitor and mop up heat sources near the line, working to gain containment in the areas along Interstate 580. On the southern perimeter of the fire, Interagency Hotshot Crews will continue to go direct, building line directly on the fires edge, preventing any continued growth to the south.
The southwestern corner of the fire is expected to continue to see extreme fire behavior today with spotting potential up to ½ mile. A mix of aircraft, supported by crews on the ground, will work to check the fire up along Mount Rose Highway, while also scouting secondary containment options.
Evacuations: For updated on evacuation statuses please visit: https://perimetermap.com.
Meanwhile, gusty winds and low humidity have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning today through 8 p.m. Wednesday, noting "a particularly dangerous situation for Wednesday."
Affected areas are the Northern Sierra Front including Carson City, Douglas, Storey, Southern Washoe, Western Lyon counties in Nevada and and far southern Lassen County in California.
Today, Tuesday, southwest winds 15 to 25 with gusts to 30 mph. On Wednesday, west to southwest winds 15 to 30 mph with gusts of 40 mph or more. Humidity on Tuesday, 12-18 percent. On Wednesday, 18-25 percent.
The combination of gusty winds and low humidity can cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first responders can contain them.
This is a particularly dangerous situation with high winds and dry conditions. New and existing fires will grow rapidly out of control, in some cases people may not be able to evacuate safely in time.
Avoid outdoor activities that can cause a spark near dry vegetation, such as yard work, target shooting, or campfires. Follow local fire restrictions.
Updates to follow.
