Lightning sparks a spate of range fires

Thursday, Aug. 19, 1999 | 12:49 p.m.

Thunderstorms that swept into north central and northeastern Nevada late Wednesday left behind a fiery legacy that is continuing today.

About a dozen wildland fires were sparked in the Elko region, ranging from a single tree to about 2,000 acres burning in heavy grass and light trees in the Mitchell Creek area about 60 miles south of Elko.

Elko Interagency Dispatch Center spokeswoman Cheri Howell said about 10 additional fires were reported, but crews were unable to find them. They still could flare up today as winds increase.

To the west, a 700-acre fire about 22 miles north of Winnemucca was 80 percent contained.

Another blaze 40 miles southeast of Battle Mountain was contained at 600 acres and crews beat down a 750-acre fire 35 miles northeast of Paradise Valley near the Oregon line north of Winnemucca. That one was human-caused.

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