Firefighters battle blazes across Nevada

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 | 9:12 a.m.

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Firefighters here took advantage of calm winds Wednesday to try to tame a wildland fire that burned 750 acres near Nevada's capital city, while lightning strikes in Southern Nevada touched off several fires outside Las Vegas.

More than 300 firefighters were battling the Badger fire in Brunswick Canyon southeast of Carson City, assisted by two air tankers, three helicopters and four bulldozers. It was 65 percent contained by midday Wednesday, fire spokesman Kirk Frosdick said.

Fire bosses anticipated full containment by 6 p.m. Thursday and control the following day.

The fire broke out about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Whipped by winds gusting to 40 mph and fueled by dry cheat grass, the flames spread quickly and sent up a plume of swirling smoke visible from Reno about 30 miles to the north.

But firefighters gained ground after sunset, when the winds subsided, temperatures cooled and humidity rose.

No homes were threatened and no injuries have been reported, but firefighters were having to contend steep, rocky terrain, open mine shafts and lots of rattlesnakes, Frosdick said.

The exact cause of the fire was under investigation, but officials said it was human caused.

In the southern part of the state, lightning sparked at least five wildfires in mountainous areas outside Las Vegas.

All the fires were burning in remote Bureau of Land Management areas, and none was immediately threatening any structures, BLM spokeswoman Kirsten Cannon said.

More than 110 firefighters were assigned to the fires, aided by single-engine air tankers, helicopters and fire engines.

A complex of four fires totaling 25 acres was burning in the mountains of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area west of Las Vegas. A scenic loop road at Red Rock was closed due to firefighting operations.

A 500-acre fire was burning near Apex, north of Las Vegas, and a fire of unknown size was reported near the Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge, about 14 miles north of the Highway 93 and Interstate 15.

A 200-acre fire was burning in Mormon Mesa near Logandale, and a fire of unknown size was burning near Bunkerville, about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

Cannon said crews were continuing to fight a fire caused by shooters Tuesday near the I-15 exit to Sloan, about 14 miles south of Las Vegas.