Reno residents breathe easier

Martin Griffith

Monday, June 25, 2001 | 10:33 a.m.

RENO -- Despite a second straight day of high winds, fire officials remained upbeat Sunday that they could contain a 14,500-acre forest fire west of here by the end of the week.

The West's largest wildfire of the season was 60 percent contained with full containment expected by 6 p.m. Saturday. The fire has cost $11.4 million to fight since erupting June 17 near Truckee, Calif.

Officials finally estimated a containment time for the Martis blaze after gusts of up to 35 mph failed Saturday to push flames beyond the lines and toward 500 or so suburban Reno homes as feared.

More than 2,200 firefighters passed another critical test Sunday, maintaining the lines after even stronger gusts of up to 55 mph.

"Things are looking very good overall," said fire information officer Rich Olsen. "The homeowners probably can rest easier now. The fire is still well within the line and there's no threat to homes."

But he quickly added: "We can't let our guard down. With high winds there's always a danger you can get embers crossing the lines and starting spot fires. One ember can change the day for you."

Caroline Young and her husband, Les Zieba, said they felt a little safer Sunday after seeing a sharp reduction in smoke over their home in the Galena Forest Estates south of Reno.

They rented a U-Haul van to haul away their valuables after fire officials said the weekend winds could send embers over a line on the fire's eastern flank and start spot fires in canyons above their home.

"The residents out here are breathing a little easier because of the progress on the fire," Young said. "But everybody is still watching the fire very carefully.

"It's been a nerve-wracking week for all of us and it will be nice when life returns to normal. It's just the unpredictability of it all."

The fire has burned within four miles of Reno-area homes and within two miles of homes in upscale Incline Village at Lake Tahoe.

Enough progress was made that firefighters were able to begin building a direct line Sunday around the head of the fire, said fire officer Tricia Humpherys.

Their efforts were focused along the eastern flank of the fire in the Mount Rose Wilderness Area.

"They could not get to the head of the fire before," Humpherys said. "By getting this direct line in, we'll move toward containment fairly quickly."

The fire did most of its damage the first day, consuming 12,000 acres, destroying three structures near Truckee and closing Interstate 80 and a major rail line.

It has been centered the last several days at high elevations in the wilderness area. The fire has scorched about 3,200 acres of the 28,000-acre wilderness.

"The fire is still active," Humpherys said. "But vegetation is sparse and there's a lot of rock up there. It's not running and making a real mad dash like before."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The fire began in the same spot east of Truckee where California Division of Forestry crews put out a small blaze the day before. It was believed to be the site of an illicit marijuana farm.