28,000 acres ablaze in northern Nevada

Tuesday, July 18, 2000 | noon

Nevada's relatively quiet wildland fire season has ended with band of thunderstorms that swept across northern Nevada, igniting at least four major fires that blackened some 33,000 acres in 24 hours.

The Prince Royal blaze three miles east of Imlay covers at least 13,000 acres and closed Interstate 80 for about 3 hours overnight. A few precautionary evacuations were recommended in Imlay and Mill City, but residents who left were allowed to return to their homes.

The flames that burned close to the interstate were moving away and going uphill shortly after daybreak. Erratic winds that hampered crews during the night also died down after the sun came up.

Fifty miles north of Winnemucca, the Bilk Creek Complex of six fires covered 16,000 acres and was threatened a ranch residence until air tankers were able to douse spot fires. Power lines reportedly have been destroyed.

The Gregg Canyon fire 25 miles southeast of Winnemucca was holding at 1,200 acres and the Big Springs fire 26 miles southeast of Wells had burned 1,700 acres. Neither was threatening any structures.

All the fires started Monday from lightning strikes.

The Cherry fire 70 miles north of Ely was virtually contained Tuesday at 7,073 acres and the Pumpernickel fire 30 miles southwest of Winnemucca also was about contained at 900 acres. Both were started by lightning last Tuesday.