Single Publication

Southwest Area Incident Management Team Update for Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Acres: 5,646 acres  

Start Date: 09/07/2024 

Location: Washoe Valley, Nevada

Personnel: 620 

Containment: 31%  

Fuels: Timber 

Resources:   10 Crews | 9 Helicopters | 48 Engines | 2 Water Tenders | 2 Dozers  

Highlights:  Despite challenging conditions over the past few days, firefighters have achieved 31% containment on the west side of the fire. The National Weather Service has issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning for the Sierra Front, in effect Wednesday from 11 AM to 8 PM. This is only the sixth PDS warning ever issued by NWS Reno, the last being on September 15-16, 2019—marking this as an exceptionally rare event. 

Last night, a successful burnout operation was conducted near Highway 431 to help secure fire lines. Firefighters continue to provide structure protection in all affected communities. Additional firefighting resources from across the country are arriving to bolster efforts. 

Aircraft were fully operational throughout yesterday’s shift, playing a vital role in supporting ground crews. However, today's aerial operations will be limited due to wind and smoke conditions. As of yesterday, rotor-wing aircraft delivered 208,000 gallons of water, with Super Scoopers contributing 196,000 gallons. Additionally, fixed-wing aircraft dropped 98,000 gallons of fire retardant. Dozer lines have been constructed near the Sky Tavern area, as well as to the north and south of Highway 431. 

Fire Activity: Yesterday, active fire behavior was observed along the southwestern portion of the fire, near Mount Rose Highway. There was minimal activity on the north and northeast sides of the fire. Crews will continue to strengthen lines in and around the northwest side. The majority of the heat has been in the western side of the fire. With predicted high winds, dry fuel conditions, and slope alignment, fire managers anticipate extreme fire behavior, including potential movement to the north and long-range spotting. Forecasted high winds present a major operational challenge, particularly in the northern areas. 

Weather: Extreme fire conditions are predicted due to the Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS). The temperatures will range from 66-71 degrees with southwest winds sustained at 25-40 MPH and gust up to 60-70 MPH. The peak of the wind event will be later in the afternoon. Once the inversion lifts and temperatures rise fire activity will increase.   

Evacuations: We urge everyone to remain vigilant and stay clear of evacuation zones. If you choose to shelter in place during today's PDS, you may be putting yourself and firefighters at greater risk, while also slowing the progress of firefighting efforts. Stay informed by relying on official fire information sources. For updates on evacuation statuses please visit: https://perimetermap.com