Huge O’Neil Complex nears containment, Twin Peaks continues growing

Tom Gardner

Sunday, Aug. 13, 2000 | 2 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - The largest current wildland fire in the state was close to containment on Sunday, 13 days after it began, while two other big blazes continued to cause major problems for crews.

The Camp Fire - the last active part of the 39,705-acre O'Neil complex - was 95 percent contained and the team that's been fighting it since the first of the month was scheduled to get some much needed rest starting Monday evening.

About 75 firefighters will continue to chase hot spots until at least the middle of the week. At the height of the fire, 450 people were on the lines.

The nearby Chokecherry fire 14 miles east of Jackpot was nearing containment at 80 percent after burning 25,000 acres.

In Churchill County, the Twin Peaks fire showed no sign of being tamed as it approached the size of the O'Neil complex, swelling to 37,770 acres with only 30 percent containment in heavy and extremely dry fuel. It was burning on both the east and west slopes of the Clan Alpine Mountains 50 miles east of Fallon.

More than 350 firefighters were battling the flames, assisted by 15 Nevada Army National Guard members from three Reno units.

A new fire broke out on Saturday and quickly spread to 300 acres. Unlike the other fires, which were sparked by lightning, the Whiskey fire 15 miles south of Battle Mountain was human-caused.

The Rabbit fire 43 miles southeast of Elko was thought to have been contained Aug. 5, but revived on Thursday to blacken 6,059 acres. Full containment was expected on Tuesday.

Another holdover blaze, the Cherry fire, has been burning 30 miles northwest of Ely for more than a month but is holding at 7,500 acres and is 75 percent contained with just one person keeping an eye on it.

The Parsnip fire 30 miles northeast of Caliente is holding at 2,010 acres and is 35 percent contained with 125 people and a helicopter fighting the flames.

The Phillips Ranch fire 50 miles southeast of Ely held at 1,300 acres and 25 percent containment with four people on scene.

This year's fire season is being called the worst in the West in 50 years. So far in Nevada, 822 fires have burned 526,141. Nationally, 65,720 fires have destroyed 4.7 million acres.