Firefighters gain upper hand on Cold Springs Fire

The Cold Springs Fire located 65 miles east of Fallon is now 90 percent contained as of Thursday afternoon, reports the Bureau of Land Management.

The fire, which has not exceeded 4,012 acres since Tuesday, has burned in inaccessible steep and heavily wooded terrain in the Desatoya Mountain Range.

“Crews are continuing mop-up and focusing on rehab of dozer and hand lines,” said Lisa Ross, public affair specialist for BLM’s Carson City District. “Fire behavior had minimal activity and no perimeter growth yesterday.”

Full containment is expected by Saturday. According to the BLM, the only concerns are high temperatures and low humidity. The National Weather Service calls for mostly sunny skies with highs in the mid-90 and winds 10 to 20 miles per hour through Saturday. Morning lows will be in the mid-50s with winds 5-15 mph.

Ross said State Route 722 was opened Wednesday with restrictions enforced by the Nevada Department of Transportation. She said the fire management team continues to ask all hunters and recreational users to avoid use of the Carroll Summit Highway (old Highway 50) between Eastgate and Austin at this time due to the heavy use of fire equipment.

She said lightning caused the fire on Friday afternoon.

Smoke, though, that has floated into western Nevada is coming from fires in northern and eastern California. She said firefighter safety is a priority and fire behavior changes will be monitored.

The fire was actively burning within Nevada Department of Wildlife Hunt Unit 184 in the lower central section of the Desatoya Mountain Range. Ross said the fire has burned some areas of General Greater Sage-Grouse habitat and Priority Habitat Management areas.

Several helicopters and a smaller air tanker, a single engine air tanker (SEAT) are still dropping water or slurry on the fire. Both the BLM and Nevada Division of Forestry have handcrews on the scene. Seven BLM engines, two Helitack units and several NDF handcrews have come from several states including Nevada.

Ross said on Tuesday helicopters are getting water from around the Campbell Ranch area, and the air tankers are loading up with slurry at a temporary airfield in Austin.

walker fire

The following is an update from the U.S. Forest Service on the Walker (Calfiornia) fire:

Burning approximately two miles southwest of Lee Vining, the Walker Fire remains at 3,715 acres. This is a human-caused fire that is still under investigation.

Crews continue to improve containment lines as well as mop up, which includes extinguishing hot spots to ensure that the fire does not re-ignite. Mitigation efforts also continue on the 65-acre spot fire.

Tioga Pass (Highway120) is open without an escort. However, there will be no stopping along the eastern four miles of the road. This will be strictly enforced. The fire remains active to the south of the road and this is essential for firefighter and public safety.

The fire is burning in mixed conifer, mahogany, and brush. Critical sage grouse habitat is also threatened. Visitors and residents should expect to see smoke from the June Lake and Lee Vining areas and along Highway 395.