Douglas County officials provided an update Sunday on two separate fires that started Saturday night, the Double Fire just south of Leviathan Mine Road off U.S. 395 and north of State Route 208 and the Ruby Fire off Pinenut 2 Road. Both fires were a result of lightning in the area, officials said. See the news release below.
Currently, all lanes of U.S. 395 are open.
The Double Fire is approximately 100 acres with good containment and good progress. No structures have been lost, no evacuations in effect for either fire, and no injuries have been reported.
The Ruby Fire is approximately 200 acres and is in a remote area, accessible by Type 6 brush trucks and UTVs. There is one helicopter assigned to that fire. East Fork is in unified command with the National Wildland Fire Service. There are approximately 100 personnel working the two fires and more resources on the way.
We would like to thank our partnering agencies, including both California and Nevada resources, the Washoe Tribe, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and Douglas County Emergency Management.
We are monitoring the weather today as there is the potential for high winds, high temperatures, and low humidity.
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UPDATE SUNDAY MORNING: The Double Fire south of Gardnerville in the Spring Valley, Double Spring area is controlled, per Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch and WildCAD. The evacuation warning has been lifted. US-395 lanes have re-opened. Sierra Front has the fire listed as 50 acres, while WildCAD says its 80 acres. There is also another fire in Douglas County, the Ruby Fire, which is reportedly 300 acres and started at around 9:39 p.m. The containment status of that fire is unknown at this time. Go here for updates.
The Bug Fire south of Cold Springs near the California and Nevada state line of Washoe County has grown to 6,528 acres with zero containment and evacuation orders still in place.
UPDATE: Two critical fires are burning in the region Saturday night, one that erupted just after 8 p.m. in the Spring Valley, Double Springs area of Douglas County and the other burning out of control near Cold Springs along US-395 near the state line in Washoe County, in which Carson City Fire Department has sent fire crews.
Firefighters responded Saturday night to the vegetation fire in the Spring Valley area south of Gardnerville, according to reporting from Eastern Sierra Fire and Ice, a social media page that tracks wildfires in the region. As of 8:45 p.m. the fire was reportedly 50 acres.
Reverse 911 alerts have been issued for the Spring Valley area. US-395 is closed in both directions. Reverse 911 notifications were sent for the Pinenut Estates, Double Springs and Leviathan Mine areas. Go here for evacuation mapping.
East Fork Fire was also called at 8:31 p.m. to 902 Dump Road for a vegetation fire.
BUG FIRE
Meanwhile firefighters, including crews from Carson City, Douglas and Lyon County, are battling the Bug Fire, located off of Highway 395 south of Bringman Road, and south of Hallelujah Junction. That fire, which has reportedly burned 4,182 acres, has prompted immediate evacuation orders for the Cold Springs area. Evacuation mapping can be found here. Mapping of the fire itself can be found here.
Carson City Fire Department Chief Kevin Nyberg confirmed crews have been sent to that fire.
HUNTER FIRE
Elsewhere, the U.S. Forest Service reports Saturday night that the Hunter Fire is burning near Hunter Creek west of Reno. The fire, which began Friday night, is now estimated at 8 acres and 10 percent contained.
The fire was reported shortly after 6 p.m. Friday evening and has burned into the Mt. Rose Wilderness west of Reno. A rappel crew and engine modules were immediately dispatched to the scene and worked through the night with the aid of night-capable air support, according to the Forest Service.
Additional air resources were called in Saturday morning, including air attack, tankers, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office helicopter. Crews have secured a handline around 30% of the perimeter and all remaining open line is surrounded with retardant, according to the Forest Service.
Firefighters are dealing with dense, rough terrain and using UTV’s (Utility Terrain Vehicles) to gain access in areas with poor road conditions. A TFR, a temporary no-fly zone, is in effect in that area and drone use anywhere near wildfires is prohibited.
No structures are immediately threatened at this time. More accurate mapping will be conducted tonight; updates will be posted on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtToiyabeNF/.
We will update as information becomes available.
