Multi-agency report on Little Valley Fire delayed due to wildfires in southeast
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 11/29/2016 - 2:32pm
Because of fires currently burning in the southeastern part of the U.S., a report has been delayed into October's Little Valley Fire in Washoe Valley that destroyed 23 homes, 17 outbuildings, burned more than 2,200 acres and was caused by a prescribed fire.
Kay Scherer, interim director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, notes that the multi-agency team assisting in the investigation of the Oct. 14 fire has been called up to assist with the significant wildfires currently impacting forests in the the southeast.
The report, which was to come in mid-January, 2017, should be finalized and ready by mid-February 2017, according to Scherer. Below is her statement:
“On October 26, 2016, a statement and my letter requesting an Escaped Prescribed Fire Review Team for the Little Valley prescribed burn were released. Subsequent to that request and as reported, a multi-agency team from across the country began the on-site portion of its review commencing November 10, 2016, and continuing through November 21, 2016. In response to inquiries during the on-site portion of the review, team leaders indicated possible completion of the review team’s report by mid-January 2017.
My statement today is to clarify the likely timeframe for report delivery. I have received, as requestor of the review, communication from the co-leader of the review team.
He has indicated that it is more likely that the report will now be finalized and ready by mid-February 2017. This is due to the fact that the vast majority of the team has, in their regular work capacities, been called up to assist with the significant wildfire activity that is impacting the southeastern United States.
These critical assignments will understandably delay the team’s ability to deliver its report by the team’s original goal of mid-January. As stated above, the review team’s revised goal is a mid-February delivery.”
On Oct. 26, a Bureau of Land Management report said the fire was caused by a prescribed fire conducted earlier in the month by the Nevada Division of Forestry.
"Based on fire pattern indicators, mapping, witness statements, and utilizing the Scientific Method, this fire was caused by an escape from the Little Valley Prescribed fire (burn)," said Dennis Terry of the Bureau of Land Management from the overview. "All other possible causes for this fire were eliminated. With winds coming out of the west/west northwest at a steady speed of 16/20 mph with gusts over 80 mph, embers from smoldering or re-ignited vegetation crossed the control line for the prescribed fire and ignited unburned vegetation outside the prescribed fire."
