Lightning-Sparked Fires Dot Northern Nevada

Thursday, July 25, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

The most active one was about 50 miles north of Winnemucca, south of the Oregon line. The Flat Creek fire had burned about 2,500 acres. It was 75 percent contained, but was making a run up a canyon at midmorning, according to fire spokesman Mike Whalen.

Southwest of that, another blaze had charred 2,000-3,000 acres. That one, called the Sod House fire, was contained.

The 6,000-acre Rock Hill fire southwest of Winnemucca was contained early today.

Whalen said his district tackled 14 fires on Wednesday ranging from a few acres to the ones that stil are burning.

"We've been kinda busy," he said.

To the east, an 800-acre fire north of Battle Mountain was contained. Smoke jumpers were attacking an inaccessible 20-acre blaze in Buffalo Valley southwest of Battle Mountain, according to dispatcher Tammy Burden.

In Elko County, five smaller fires were ignited. The largest one so far had burned 200 acres near Wilson Reservoir.

Officials said 2,000 lightning strikes had been recorded in Elko County since Wednesday. More thunderstorms were expected today.

No structures have been lost and no injuries have been reported in any of the fires.