RENO, Nevada (KOLO) –UPDATE 8 PM: The Davis Fire damaged 14 buildings. Further investigations will be conducted as soon as it is safe to do so, the US Forest Service said Sunday evening.
The 6,500-acre fire is raging in dense forest and brush. Strong wind gusts are expected for the rest of the week. There are no containment measures in place.
The southern end of the west side of the fire grew the most due to the winds on Sunday and moved along the Mount Ros Highway. Crews were able to keep the other fronts of the fire largely under control.
Most highways are reopened, although US 395 in Washoe Valley is closed.
Evacuation orders have been issued for about 12,000 to 14,000 people south of Reno. The number of customers without power in Washoe County was 4,453 as of Sunday evening. At the peak, about 17,000 customers were without power. NV Energy expects thousands of customers to remain without power through Monday morning for safety reasons.
UPDATE 7 PM: The Truckee Meadows Fire Department estimates the Davis Fire to be 6,500 acres in size and says it is not possible to contain it.
UPDATE 4 PM: Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency Sunday afternoon because of the Davis Fire.
The governor’s statement said the Davis Fire had ravaged approximately 2,000 acres of land and displaced 20,000 people from their homes and businesses. The statement followed Washoe County’s declaration of a state of emergency.
This means that public safety evacuation orders are no longer voluntary.
“As the Davis Fire continues to threaten residential areas and critical infrastructure in Washoe County, I have declared a state of emergency,” Lombardo said in the statement. “I ask that all residents follow the instructions of local authorities who are assisting with evacuation. Our firefighters and emergency management teams are fully deployed and working tirelessly to contain this threat and prevent further casualties.”
13:50 UPDATE: The Davis Fire was still zero percent under control as of early Sunday afternoon, the U.S. Forest Service reported.
The area covers 3,300 acres. About 450 people are assigned to the fire, including 12 fire crews and 45 fire trucks. Five helicopters are dropping water to extinguish the fire.
There is no current information on the number of buildings that burned down. The cause of the fire is unknown.
NV Energy reported 9,363 customers without power as winds picked up and the evacuation zone was expanded to Arrowcreek.
The Mount Rose Highway closure has been extended beyond Mount Rose Ski Tahoe Resort to the summit of Mount Rose.
The evacuation shelter at the Washoe County Senior Center at 1155 E 9th St. remains open. Large animals can be taken to the University of Nevada, Reno Equestrian Center or Fuji Park in Carson City.
LUNCH UPDATE: Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue said evacuations have resumed in the Arrowcreek area as winds fanned the Davis Fire.
UPDATE, 10:40 a.m.: Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue estimates the Davis Fire to be 3,300 acres in size.
10 AM UPDATE: TThe Nevada Department of Transportation reports that Interstate 580 between Reno and Carson City is now open.
US 395 Alternate is open in Pleasant Valley but remains closed in Washoe Valley.
The Mount Rose Highway remains closed from South Virginia Street to Mount Rose Ski Tahoe Resort.
SEPTEMBER 8 9:45 AM UPDATE: The Davis Fire remains active and evacuations are still in effect, Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue reported Sunday morning.
Mount Rose Highway was closed overnight from South Virginia Street to Mount Rose-Ski Tahoe Resort. Old US 395 was opened to allow people access to Eastlake Boulevard.
Residents living north of Mount Rose Highway have been allowed to return home. Evacuation orders remain in effect for St. James Village, the Galena area and areas south of Mount Rose Highway.
The number of NV Energy customers whose power was shut off for safety reasons fell to 6,725. There is no estimate when power will be restored.
TMFR reports no fire suppression. There is no update on the number of structures burned, which stands at 12. The latest estimate of fire size is 1,800 acres.
Strong winds mean a wildfire warning with increased fire danger in the region from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. TMFR expects fire outbreaks to flare up as winds increase.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is patrolling the evacuated areas. People who have not been evacuated should remain in place.
The Washoe County Senior Citizens Center at the corner of Ninth and Sutro Streets remains open as an evacuation center.
The public is asked to stay away from the fire area.
UPDATE, 9:30 p.m.: Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue reports that up to 12 structures have burned in the Davis Fire. It is not clear how many of these are residential homes and how many are outbuildings.
The fire is now reported to have spread over 730 hectares.
NV Energy has doubled the number of customers without power as lines have been shut off for safety reasons. There are currently 18,698 customers without power and the number could rise if the fire continues to spread.
The Storey County Sheriff’s Office said the Virginia City Highlands area was on alert for possible evacuations at least overnight.
The Washoe County Senior Citizen Center at 1155 E. 9th St. will remain open overnight as an evacuation center.
Interstate 580 remains closed from Damonte Ranch Parkway south of Reno to North Carson City.
People are asked to avoid the fire area.
Washoe County reported that several buildings were burning in Davis Creek Regional Park after the fire broke out around 2:30 p.m.
A house in the park burned down. The family escaped unharmed, but all their belongings were lost and some pets are missing.
The air quality is in the unhealthy range.
The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest share responsibility for firefighting.
19:50 UPDATE: Interstate 580 southbound is closed at Damonte Ranch Parkway due to the Davis Fire.
According to Northern Nevada Public Health, the air quality in the areas near the Davis Fire is unhealthy.
UPDATE 7 PM: Due to the Davis Fire, Interstate 580 is currently closed from Mount Rose Highway to College Parkway in Carson City.
US 395 Alternate is also closed in Washoe Valley.
The U.S. National Weather Service said a Red Flag Warning is in effect for the Sierra Front until 8 p.m. due to winds up to 40 mph and dry conditions.
18:10 UPDATE: At least six buildings were destroyed in the Davis fire, Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue reported.
The area of the fire is now estimated at at least 600 hectares.
More than 30 fire engines and trucks are on fire and the number is growing, TMFR said.
In addition, firefighting aircraft are being used to drop firefighting agents on the fire.
17:55 UPDATE: Eldorado Resort Casino, Circus Circus Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino are offering a special $59 rate with free resort fee for anyone evacuated due to the Davis Fire.
For more details, call us at 1-800-223-7277.
17:35 UPDATE: Truckee Meadows Fire Department spokesman Adam Mayberry confirmed that at least one building was destroyed by the Davis fire.
Mayberry could not say if it was a residential building or an outbuilding or how many buildings were destroyed.
16:55 UPDATE: Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue said evacuations have been ordered for St. James Village, Galena Forest Estates, Montreaux, Arrowcreek and Washoe City.
The new evacuation site is now the Senior Center at Ninth and Sutro Streets in Reno.
The fire has an area of 200 hectares and continues to spread, TMFR reported. People have been urged to heed evacuation orders before the fire becomes dangerous and spreads quickly.
3:55 p.m. UPDATE: Due to the fire near Davis Creek Regional Park, the Storey County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation warning for the population of the Virginia Highlands region.
3:25 p.m. UPDATE: Washoe County Emergency Management said people living near the wildfire in Davis Creek Regional Park needed to be evacuated.
People can be evacuated to the South Valleys Library at 15650A Wedge Parkway.
15:10 UPDATE: IThe Nevada Department of Transportation reports that Interstate 580 from Bellevue in the Washoe Valley to Mount Rose Highway is closed in both directions due to a brush fire around Davis Creek Regional Park.
ORIGINAL STORY: SMultiple fire departments are responding to a brush fire of approximately 3 acres in the Davis Creek Regional Park area, Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue reported Saturday afternoon.
TMFR urged people to avoid the area.
Traffic reports indicate that the road from US 395 to Bowers Mansion and Davis Creek Park will be closed.
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