UPDATE: Cold Springs fire now 4,012 acres

UPDATE: Monday afternoon:

The Cold Springs fire has grown to 4,012 acres since the last situation report.

The fire is actively burning within Nevada Department of Wildlife Hunt Unit 184 in the lower central section of the Desatoya Mountain Range.

A Type 3 Incident Management Team took over fire operations at 6 a.m. Monday morning. The higher they type of management team, the more complex the fire is.

The weather today is expected to be mostly sunny with a high in upper 90s with winds 5 to 10 mph. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 62 and winds 5 to 15 mph.

SUNDAY 8 p.m.

A lightning-caused fire that ignited a fire in the Desatoya Mountain Range east of Fallon has grown to more than 2,500 acres as of Sunday afternoon.

The Cold Springs Fire is burning in thick vegetation and steep, inaccessible terrain about 65 miles east of Fallon. BLM officials located near the fire said gusty winds on Saturday afternoon fanned the blaze. The fire is located 15 miles east of U.S. Highway 50 just north of State Route 722. The two-lane Carroll Summit Highway is a secondary route to the Reese River Valley and Austin. At times the fire crossed the highway.

“This is the largest fire of the year the Carson City District,” said Lisa Ross, BLM public affairs specialist.

She said a Nevada Type 3 Incident Management Team from the Sierra Front met Sunday afternoon and will take over fire operations at 6 a.m. Monday. Incident Commander Tyler Hecht is in charge of the IMT.

Ross said the fire is consuming juniper trees and grass as air and ground crews are actively engaged in fire suppression activities. She also said the fire has burned some areas of sage grouse habitat and is threatening a Priority Habitat Management Area.

In addition to BLM crews fighting the fire, the Nevada Division of Forestry has two hand crews fighting the blaze, and a third one is on its way. A kitchen crew out of Wells is also en route.

“Crews continue to build line around the perimeter of the fire for increased containment,” Ross said. “The fire management team is asking all hunters and recreational users to avoid use of the Carroll Summit Highway between Eastgate and Austin at this time due to the heavy use of fire equipment, aircraft, and numerous fire personnel utilizing the area and road.”

According to Sunday’s report, about 200 air and ground crews are on the scene. Both helicopters and air tankers worked the fire over the weekend, as have BLM engine and Helitack crews and NDF hand crews.