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December 2, 2009

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Lightning touches off new round of wildfires in Reno area

Thursday, June 29, 2000 | 9:32 a.m.

Forest Service spokeswoman Anna Maria said firefighters were battling about a dozen wildfires in the region.

There were no reports of injuries or damage to homes.

Maria said the top priority was a 500-acre brush fire in Hungry Valley north of Reno because it was threatening some homes.

But she was unsure how many structures were threatened or whether they were homes or outbuildings.

The second priority was the 200-acre Mitchell Canyon fire on Peavine Mountain just west of Reno.

The fire sent up a smoke plume that could be seen across Reno, but was not threatening any homes.

Firefighters also were battling smaller blazes in the Reno area and about a half-dozen smaller fires in the Carson City area.

Meanwhile, firefighters gained the upper hand on a wildland fire that blackened more than 1,000 acres near Gardnerville.

Fire officials said the blaze near the China Spring Youth Camp 10 miles southeast of Gardnerville was contained by Wednesday evening.

At one point, the fire threatened as many as 10 homes and forced an evacuation at the camp.

The fire eventually burned to within one mile of U.S. Highway 395, but did not require a highway closure.

Officials think the fire was caused by someone using a chainsaw. Its cause remains under investigation.

The fire burned sagebrush, pinyon pines and junipers.

Firefighters also were battling a 5,000-acre wildland fire in Idaho north of the Elko County town of Jarbidge.

Fire officials said the blaze was likely human-caused and was burning in a steep canyon on Bureau of Land Management lands.

Firefighters responded to as many as 20 wildland fires Sunday in the Reno area, most caused by lightning strikes.

The largest blaze blackened 250 acres in the Pah Rah Mountains east of Sparks. The fire was man-caused but its exact cause has not been determined.

The National Weather Service was calling for a chance of thunderstorms in the region every day through Saturday.

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