Homes spared from fast-moving Reno fire
Tuesday, July 17, 2007 10:58 AM PDT
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Firefighters hoped to take advantage of calm conditions early today to reinforce fire lines near southwest Reno homes before winds and dangerous fire conditions developed later in the day.
‘‘We’ve got concerns this afternoon,’’ said fire spokesman Steve Frady.
A red flag warning was issued from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., and forecasters anticipated wind gusts up to 35 mph.
‘‘Those are going to be a challenge for us, as they were yesterday,’’ Frady said.
The Hawken fire broke out around 2:30 p.m. Monday and quickly spread through tinder dry brush, grass and some timber near the upscale Caughlin Ranch area.
Flames whipped by 30 mph wind gusts forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents in the neighborhood, where home values range from around $600,000 to multimillion dollar estates.
Most homeowners were allowed to return to their homes by sundown Monday, as winds lessened and the fire burned away from homes toward Forest Service land and the Mount Rose wilderness area.
‘‘Firefighters did a tremendous job in holding the fire from the residences,’’ Frady said.
But the fire remained active overnight, and was estimated early today at 900 acres.
‘‘Burning conditions overnight were much as we see during the day,’’ Frady said.
About 200 firefighters continued to battle the blaze, and more crews have been requested, Frady said.
A federal fire team was to assume management of the fire today, Frady said, a move that would allow access to additional resources and funds.
Frady said crews were concentrating on reinforcing fire breaks near homes.
‘‘We are working our bulldozers on the east flank of the fire now, cutting lines and widening existing liens in the area,’’ he said. ‘‘We have engine crews and hand crews and trying to get as much done this morning as we can.’’
A large plume of smoke dominated the southwest Reno horizon, and the region was blanketed under a thick haze.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Mike Trudell, manager of the Caughlin Ranch Homeowners Association, said the fire might have started near a construction site, but he didn’t know exactly where or the cause. The homes that burned in Lake Tahoe’s recent Angora Fire have been on the minds of residents, he added.
