More fires burning in N. Nevada

Thursday, Sept. 12, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Humans and lightning have sparked another round of wildland fires across Northern Nevada that had blackened anywhere from a few acres to 25,000, officials said.

The largest, the Frenchie Fire in northern Crescent Valley, was being battled by state and federal crews assisted by volunteer agencies, according to spokeswoman Erin O'Connor in Elko. It was 80 percent contained with full containment expected by this evening. The fire is southeast of Battle Mountain.

Five smaller blazes in Elko and Eureka counties ranging from two acres to 20 were contained. All were started by dry lightning late Tuesday.

One of the human-caused fires began during training exercises based at Naval Air Station Fallon when a Navy flier ignited a smoke marker, according to Navy spokeswoman Anne McMillin.

It had burned about 2,500 acres on the west side of the Desatoya Mountains, about 45 miles east of Fallon and five miles south of the community of Cold Springs. There was no estimate of containment.

Another human-sparked blaze had burned about 2,000 acres in the Humboldt National Forest. The Tom's Basin Fire was started by a catalytic converter on a motor vehicle, according to spokesman Bob Hopper.

He said crews fighting steep, rocky terrain and very dry sagebrush and aspen hoped for containment of that fire 45 miles northwest of Winnemucca by this evening and control by Friday evening.

Lightning started 11 fires in the Battle Mountain area, two of which were near containment. One had reached 300 acres and the other, 250 acres. Another 250-acre fire was controlled on Wednesday.

A fire is contained when it is not expected to grow in size. It's controlled when it's essentially out.