Kelsey Penrose and Arianna Schmidt
Firefighters are working to contain a large brush fire which was caused by lightning located in Cottonwood Canyon on the Carson Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest 15 miles south of Gardnerville.
As of 3:30 p.m. Friday, the fire is at 200 acres and only 10 percent contained, and there are 170 personnel deployed to the scene. Ground crews and aircraft with water drops and fire retardant are both fighting the blaze, which is burning in a “steep and rugged canyon” causing issues for ground crews to access the fire.
The fire was active for most of the day Thursday as it moved in both an east and west direction.
“Today firefighters are focusing on working in tandem with aircraft to secure the line”, said incident commander Stacey Saucedo. “Cottonwood Canyon is a steep and rugged canyon with difficult access for ground crews. Flames and heat are being funneled uphill through the canyon from the river bottom, so firefighters are focusing their efforts there.”
Firefighters are expected to be on scene through the weekend. Individuals are asked to stay out the area of Horseshoe Bend on the East Fork of the Carson River, where firefighters are working.
