Nevada - Verdi Fire Grows to 5000 Acres and Puts Hundreds of Homes in Harm’s Way

krnv.com ^ | August 11, 2006

[HAL9000]

The Reno Fire Department says the Verdi fire is now burning 5,000 acres. The fire's quick growth led officials to downgrade their containment estimates to 10 percent.

Firefighters say about 800 homes in Reno's Somersett neighborhood are in the path of the fire, but a fire department spokesman says he can not say whether the homes are immediately threatened. The Reno Fire Department is handling structure protection.

No evacuations are in place at this time.

The fire is a mile north of Interstate 80 and the Boomtown Hotel-Casino just east of the California state line. The Interstate remains open and firefighters say Boomtown is not in danger.

The Reno Fire Department says two people were caught in the area of the fire. One had a leg injury. Firefighters say they were able to lead both people to safety. No other injuries have been reported.

Sierra Front has activitied an incident management team, and the Reno Fire Department says a Type I Federal team will soon be called to take over the fire. At least seven small air tankers and helicopters, 36 engines and 200 ground firefighters are attacking the fire. Wind gusts up to 25 miles per hour are making their efforts difficult.

Firefighters are asking residents to stay away from the area. On-lookers are crowding roads and making it difficult for emergency vehicles to make their way to the fire.

Temporary flight restrictions have been ordered for 10 thousand feet above the fire for a seven mile radius. A spokesperson at the Reno Tahoe International Airport said no flights at the airport are affected.

Fire officials have not yet named the cause of this fire. They hope to have the fire contained by Sunday.

[Irish Queen]

Thanks for the information. I fisrt saw the smoke plumes late yesterday afternoon while looking at a house near stagecoach. My husband did the surveying on some of the Somerset development last summer.

[uglybiker]

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