Fire burns at Desert Wetlands; red flag warning posted

Published Monday, July 6, 2009 | 2:18 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, July 7, 2009 | 1:07 p.m.

Desert Wetlands Park

Sun weather

Current conditions, today's forecast, neighborhood weather conditions, historical climatological information

Firefighters are battling a fire at the Desert Wetlands Park today as forecasters issued a red flag warning because of an increased risk of fire in Southern Nevada.

Strong winds and low humidity levels are combining today to create a greater threat of fire in the region, forecasters said. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning in effect today from 11 a.m. through 11 p.m. for most of Clark County and Southern Nevada.

Firefighters responded shortly before 4 a.m. to the fire at the Desert Wetlands Park. Clark County Fire Department spokesman Scott Allison said no homes or buildings are threatened.

Bureau of Land Management crews are working to contain the fire near Sam Boyd Stadium, Allison said.

BLM spokeswoman Kirsten Cannon said the burned area is 3 acres in size but no smoke is visible. The blaze is not yet controlled, but four engines, two hand crews and a helicopter are working to contain the fire, she said.

Forecasters said southwest winds will increase in Southern Nevada today ahead of a weather system moving into Northern California. Winds could gust up to 40 mph by the early afternoon, the weather service said.

At the same time, humidity levels will fall into the single digits, forecasters said. Today's high temperature will top out near 104 degrees in Las Vegas.

The mercury should hit the triple digits each day this week and into the weekend, forecasters said.

The average high for today's date in Las Vegas is 104 degrees, according to weather service records.

Discussion: 1 comment so far…

By bdover

7/7/09 at 8:01 p.m.

Suggest removal

Where are the overpaid City of Henderson Fireloafers? They could at least lend a hand, since they have little to do. Well then, maybe it's better that they don't get involved, since one or two of them would strain their back and take a smooth fully paid 3 month vacation....