More than 1,060 firefighters continued efforts Tuesday battling the Bison Fire in the Pine Nut Mountains east of Gardnerville, which has prompted a voluntary evacuation of the Pipeline Canyon area in Lyon County. As of early Tuesday evening, the fire has burned 25,733 acres and is 25 percent contained.
Great Basin Management Type 2 Team 3, operating under Incident Commander Mike Whalen, reports firefighter efforts have been on the south, west and north sides of the fire. The southeast edge of the fire continued to creep down the ridge toward Pipeline Canyon, said Lisa Ross, spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
A trigger point was reached which prompted the Lyon County Sheriff to start the voluntary evacuations for Pipeline Canyon. Lyon County sheriff’s deputies are currently going door to door asking residence to leave Pipeline Canyon. For more information contact Lyon County Sheriff’s Dispatch at (775) 463-6600.
Full containment estimated for July 14. The public is urged to stay out of the fire area.
As far as structures go, thus far, the fire ran through the Slater Mine area on Sunday burning several old structures.
A spike camp was set up in Smith Valley and about 200 fire fighters will be working out of this camp on the east side of the fire.
Several crews arrived Tuesday bringing the number of personnel assigned to the incident to 1,065. More resources are arriving daily. There has been one firefighter injured with a twisted knee.
Additional heavy helicopters are assisting in the aerial firefighting efforts today, with winds posing less of a problem on certain areas of the fire than in past days.
Incident Commander Mike Whalen briefed Governor Brian Sandoval on the Bison Fire at the Incident Command Post Monday. The Nevada Department of Emergency Management Director and their staff were also briefed at that time.
East Fork Fire Protection District Fire Chief Todd Carlini reports that the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners has declared a State of Emergency for the Bison Fire. This allows the County to request additional State resources and assistance, as well as federal assistance, should the Governor deem a State of Emergency for the State of Nevada.
The following road closures to non-residents are currently in place for:
* Pine Nut Road at the intersection of Out-R-Way
*East Valley Road at Grandview
*Sunrise Pass Road at Coyote Rock
*Brunswick Canyon Road
*Mexican Dam Road
*Sunrise Pass Road at Artesia Road