Reno, Nevada. July 6, 2016. The summer is proving to be a busy one for fire agencies in Northern Nevada, and this holiday weekend was no exception. Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) crews responded to 14 fires over the weekend. Fortunately, the 4th of July turned out to be a real holiday for crews. Monday was only the third day crews were without a fire since the Hawken Fire burned 278 acres just three weeks ago.
“We appreciate the public’s efforts in making for a safe Independence Day celebration,” said Truckee Meadows Fire Chief Charlie Moore. “Our crews were dispatched to two brush fires and two structure fires in a 90-minute period on Saturday, and on Sunday we were called out to seven fires. Monday’s break was a welcomed change of pace.” The much needed break was short lived though, as crews were back to working two vehicle-fire-turned-brush-fires on Tuesday.
In the past 21 days since the Hawken Fire, Truckee Meadows Fire crews have responded to 41 fires that burned more than 20 acres, totaling 11 times the acreage burned in all of June and July last year. Tuesday was the fourth Red Flag Warning since the Hawken Fire, and we may see additional Red Flag Warnings going into the weekend.
On Tuesday evening, at least 14 engines from TMFPD, TMFPD Volunteers, Reno Fire, Bureau of Land Management and Nevada Division of Forestry attacked the fire off of 395 northbound, where structures were threatened after wind spread a vehicle fire into wildland. Crews worked nearly an hour before knocking down the fire and transferring command from Truckee Meadows Fire to Reno Fire for mop up.
“People cannot be too careful during Red Flag Warnings, which are issued when conditions are ideal for combustion and rapid spread. We are facing high fire danger all week. In addition to winds spreading a fire, we typically cannot call for air support in high winds, which is a critical resource,” said Moore. “Prevention and precaution is our best weapon when these windy conditions are anticipated.”
Residents are reminded to avoid outdoor activities that can cause a spark near dry vegetation such as yard work or target shooting, and operating motorized vehicles and equipment on dry vegetation, and to be aware that new fire restrictions are in effect on public lands this summer. Residents are also warned to expect unseasonably low temperatures on Saturday and Sunday. Hikers and boaters are warned to expect radical temperature changes at 10-15 degrees below normal, along with windy conditions and gusts that may exceed 60 mph along exposed ridges.
For up to date information on weather and fire activity, follow www.twitter.com/TMFPD.
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