wildfire

Taking advantage of statewide moisture in the forecast, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest will conduct prescribed fire operations across several portions of the forest this week as part of the forest’s hazardous fuels reduction effort and active forest management program. Also, weather and conditions permitting, the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team will continue widespread prescribed fire operations this week in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

It was an eventful year around the Carson City region notwithstanding the limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's some notable stories that were not pandemic related that happened in 2020.

Tonight was supposed to be the time to bundle up, put handwarmers in your gloves and gather family and friends to venture downtown to enjoy one of Carson City’s most beloved traditions and the official kick-off to the holiday season.

CARSON CITY — Given the devastating 2020 wildfire season across the west, and following two late-season wildfires that recently swept across the Sierra Front, the Nevada Division of Forestry announced Wednesday that it will convene a free virtual summit to help Nevadans prepare and protect their homes, families, and communities from wildland fires.

Gov. Steve Sisolak announced on Sunday that he is lowering occupancy limits and once again reducing the size of allowed gatherings as COVID-19 continues to spread like wildfire across the state, setting records day after day for new reported cases.

UPDATE 6:43 p.m. Voluntary evacuations have been lifted. Motsville Road remains closed but should be opening soon, according to the Douglas County government Facebook page.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, in partnership with NV Energy and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, is seeking public comment on the NV Energy Resilience Corridors project. This project proposes vegetation treatments along roughly 43 miles of power line corridors on approximately 5,300 acres of National Forest System lands.

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is initiating a public comment period on the proposed Forest-Wide Prescribed Fire Restoration Project. The purpose of this project is to increase the pace and scale of prescribed burning on lands within 6.2 million acres of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada and a small portion of eastern California.

Wildland fire officials have lifted fire restrictions across much of Nevada’s public lands. The Bureau of Land Management, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and Nevada Division of Forestry have rescinded the current 2020 Nevada-wide fire restrictions as of Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020.

As part of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s hazardous fuels reduction efforts, both Carson and Bridgeport Ranger Districts’ fire crews will conduct pile burning beginning in November 2020 through May 2021, weather and fuel conditions permitting.

The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has begun closing recreational facilities for the winter season. Seasonal closures apply to many National Forest recreation sites in the Tahoe Basin including beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas and forest roads.

Christmas tree permits for National Forest System lands on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Bridgeport and Carson Ranger Districts will be available for purchase online through Recreation.gov, as well as in-person at multiple locations, beginning Monday, Nov. 2.

As part of the Carson Ranger District’s Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest recently released sheep in the Jacks Valley Wildlife Management Fuels Reduction Project area just south of Jacks Valley Road in Carson City, Nev.

The Bureau of Land Management, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and Nevada Division of Forestry will jointly reduce the current 2020 Nevada-wide fire restrictions, effective for all three agencies by Friday, Oct. 16, until further notice. The reduced fire restrictions will allow campfires in designated campground areas within Nevada.

The next Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting will take place Thursday, October 15, in the Bob Boldrick Theatre of the Community Center located at 851 E. William Street.

The National Weather Service (NOAA) has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. PDT on Saturday, October 10, 2020 for the greater Lake Tahoe area.

Truckee Meadows Fire reports Monday morning that the Baccarat Fire, which started Sunday night north of Reno, is estimated to be 1,400 acres with no containment and threatens 75 structures.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board on Wednesday approved key updates to forest management ordinances that will streamline large-scale fuel reduction projects and continue reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfire in the Tahoe Basin.

But this fire season, the Nevada Division of Forestry and NV Energy are using a different kind of fire prevention technology — a herd of more than 300 goats.

With 675 fires having burned 235,751 acres in Nevada so far this year, and wildfires continuing to threaten homes and lives across the West, next week University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Living With Fire Program wraps up its five-part virtual workshop series, “Five Ways to Prepare Your Family and Property for Wildfire.”

NV Energy said Thursday it is canceling plans to shut off electric power lines Friday as part of a public safety outage management event in Incline Village due to improved weather conditions and an updated forecast.

With gusty winds expected to arrive in the Carson City area, northern Sierra Front and Lake Tahoe region, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag fire weather warning Thursday afternoon through Friday evening.

CARSON CITY — To assist with disaster relief during this devastating fire season, Greater Nevada Credit Union has donated $30,000 to three different credit unions coordinating relief efforts in California and Oregon. Rogue Credit Union Foundation in Medford, Ore.; Redwood Credit Union Community Fund in Santa Rosa, Calif.; and Sierra Central Credit Union in Yuba City, Calif. will each receive $10,000 to assist with ongoing relief efforts.

Due to unprecedented and historic fire conditions throughout the state, the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region on Tuesday extended the temporary Forest Closure Order of all 18 National Forests in California, which began last week.

NV Energy and Nevada Division of Forestry have partnered to reduce the risk of wildfire in Carson City in the Clear Creek watershed through targeted goat grazing. More than 300 goats from High Desert Graziers in Smith Valley, NV, will be grazing on over 100 acres of private property off of Highway 50 through September and October of 2020 in an extreme wildfire risk area.

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest system lands located in California on the Carson and Bridgeport Ranger Districts will reopen to the public on Tuesday morning after a temporary emergency closure went into place on Sept. 10 due to an unprecedented and dangerous fire situation in the state of California.

The next Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on Thursday, Sept. 17 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Sierra Room of the Community Center, located at 851 E. William Street.

Items for discussion include new shade structures in the downtown area, grant funding for fuel reduction, surplus city funding, and more.

With 642 fires having burned 229,409 acres in Nevada so far this year, and wildfires continuing to threaten homes and lives across the West, University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Living With Fire Program continues its virtual workshop series, “Five Ways to Prepare Your Family and Property for Wildfire.”

Most of California remains under the threat of unprecedented and dangerous fire conditions with a combination of extreme heat, significant wind events, dry conditions, and firefighting resources that are stretched to the limit.

Due to these conditions, the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region is announcing the following temporary closures and fire restrictions to provide for public safety and reduce the potential for human caused fire starts.

With the Slink Fire burning south of Topaz Lake continuing to grow westward, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest expanded the fire closure area as of Saturday evening. The closure now includes all areas, campgrounds trails and roads at the following areas: