Southern Nevada blaze given priority in state

Lisa Snedeker

Monday, Aug. 7, 2000 | 10:52 a.m.

Firefighters in Nevada conquered several large wildland blazes in the north and quickly turned their attention to a 675-acre fire north of Las Vegas that threatened a smattering of homes.

Fire officials hoped to have the Trout fire 50 percent by day's end, provided the weather cooperates.

The lightning-sparked fire broke out Friday near the Spring Mountains Recreation Area. Firefighters managed to keep the blaze from spreading Sunday night, thanks to lower temperatures and higher humidity, said Paula Cote of the U.S. Forest Service.

"It's still moving away from the homes," she said early Monday. "We've been able to flank two sides of the fires which is really good. Today will be the telling day of whether we will be able to hold it."

Monday's high temperatures were expected to reach 108 degrees. The National Weather Service predicted afternoon southwest winds of 10-20 mph, with no rain in the immediate forecast.

On Sunday, fire officials declared the Trout fire the state's highest priority and nearly tripled the number of firefighters battling the blaze to a total of 160.

Air support also was doubled to four air tankers dropping water and retardant.

The fire will remain a priority until it is contained, Cote said.

"We still have houses there," she said referring to Trout Canyon, a hamlet of about two dozen homes just south of Mount Charleston and about 50 miles west of Las Vegas.

In northern Nevada, firefighters contained a huge complex of 12 fires that burned 73,600 acres north of Wells and made progress on other fires burning throughout the region.

Firefighters battling the O'Neil Basin Complex were heartened by the arrival Sunday of two support helicopters, which have been in short supply as fires continue to ravage the West in what is being called the worst fire season in 50 years.

The O'Neil fires have burned 35,700 acres southwest of Jackpot and were 40 percent contained early Monday.

The Fireball fire northeast of Fernley, which grew six-times in size over the weekend, was 80 percent contained at 7,000 acres.

So far this fire season, 799 fires in Nevada have burned 456,000 acres.