Governor honors wildland-fire teams

Monday, Oct. 14, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

The barbecue at the governor's mansion honored local, state and federal firefighters and emergency personnel who responded to more than 1,200 fires that burned an estimated 565,000 acres.

About 200 people, including firefighters and their families, turned out under sunny skies. Also attending were Miller's wife, Sandy, and youngest child, Megan, 6.

The event featured brief remarks by the governor and music by the local band Kentucky Wind.

"This is just a symbol of gratitude for all of those who worked long and hard to save lives and millions of dollars in property," Miller said. "Their valor and devotion to duty is outstanding."

The loss of life and property would have been far greater had it not been for their efforts, he said, adding they often battled the blazes under tough circumstances.

"The luncheon is intended to show the appreciation everyone throughout the state has for the heroic stand against wind and flame," Miller said.

Personnel from municipal and county fire departments, the Nevada Division of Forestry, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs attended.

Also showing up were personnel from volunteer fire departments, and police and emergency response departments.

The event was sponsored by a number of Northern Nevada businesses, including mining companies and hotel-casinos.

Fire officials said it was one of the worst fire seasons since the West's settlement last century.

In late August alone, thunderstorms touched off more than 70 rangeland fires that raged across more than 300,000 acres in northern Nevada.

Some of those thunderstorms also started the year's largest wildfire in the state, the 155,350-acre Upper Humboldt complex blaze 50 miles east of Winnemucca.