IMAGES: TY O’NEIL
SIERRA FRONT FIRE UPDATE (10/17):
The Little Valley Fire started in the Franktown Road area at 2 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The moisture we received over the last 48-72 hours was very helpful for firefighting efforts, and keeping the fire within the incident objective perimeter. The total acres remain at 3,400 with increased containment to 55 percent.
Firefighter and public safety remain to be the primary concern. Today, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, Washoe County, Great Basin Incident Management Team, Red Cross, and the Nevada National Guard will begin implementing the community reentry plan into the fire affected area. Residents whose homes are uninhabitable will be escorted into the restricted area today as conditions allow. Tuesday, all residents that were in the restricted area are expected to be allowed to return, conditions permitting.
A residential guide for returning after extended power outages is attached and provides property owners with information on returning to residences after evacuation or power loss.
Firefighters will focus on mopping-up hot spots around structures, addressing hazard trees and smoldering stumps. Fire crews will continue to secure the fire perimeter and addressing any localized flooding along roads and ditches.
All flood watches have been lifted. Over the last 24 hours, 2.75” of rain was received over the fire affected area. Winds are expected to be light today 8-10 mph with gusts to 15 mph. A high pressure system is moving into the area with a warming trend and temperatures in the 70s by the end of the week.
Evacuations: Multiple structures are still threatened until 100% containment has been achieved. Mandatory evacuation is expected to be lifted by Wednesday October 19, 2016 if conditions allow. The attached exclusion zone map shows the area that is currently restricted.
The Evacuation Centers have been deactivated.
Red Cross will be available today from 9am to 4pm to assist residents with shelter, medication, medical accessories and supplies, they can be contacted at 775-954-1194.
Road Closures: Old US 395A is open; however Franktown Road remains closed below 6190 Franktown Road.
For fire information please call 775-782-1429.
SIERRA FRONT FIRE UPDATE (10/16):
The moisture we received over the last 48 hours was very helpful for firefighting efforts and keeping the fire within the incident objective perimeter. The total acres remain at 3400. It is estimated that approximately 480 homes have been saved in the fire area.
Firefighter and Public Safety remain our primary concern. A flash flood watch is in effect over the fire area, we ask that citizens avoid the area due to potential flooding. Residents who will be allowed to visit homes will be contacted directly by Washoe County Sheriff’s office. Although the main fire threat has been reduced from the rain received over the fire, the public will continue to see smokes from the interior of the fire perimeter. Today, firefighters will continue to mop up around structures to ensure safe entry by returning residents and improve the fire line perimeter. Franktown Road remains closed.
Evacuations: Multiple structures are still threatened until 100% containment has been achieved. Mandatory evacuations remain in place for Franktown Road below the address of 6190 Franktown Road.
The Evacuation Center at Depoali Middle School (people and small animals) has been closed but remains equipped, and the UNR Equestrian Center (large animals) and Fuji Park in Carson City (large animals) remain open.
Road Closures: Old US 395A is open; however Franktown Road remains closed below 6190 Franktown Road. The open area has expanded to the address of 6190 Franktown Road and above.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. For fire information please call 775-782-1429.
10/15/2016
The Little Valley Fire started in the Franktown Road area at 2 a.m. on Friday, Oct, 14, 2016. After flying the fire last night, total acres have been updated to 3460. Fire activity remained fairly stable through the night with no major movement. The objectives for the Sierra Front Type 3 Incident Management Team today are to keep the fire north of Bellevue Road, south of Slide Mountain/Joy Lake Road, west of Eastlake and New Washoe City and east of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Firefighter and Public Safety remain our primary concern. We ask the public to please avoid the area as Franktown Road remains closed. Although the precipitation we saw yesterday helped slow fire spread, we expect a large wind event later this afternoon which may result in extreme fire behavior.
Evacuations: Multiple structures are threatened. Mandatory evacuations are in place for Franktown Road and voluntary evacuations are in place for west Washoe Valley.
Evacuation Centers remain open at Depoali Middle School (people and small animals), UNR Equestrian Center (large animals), Fuji Park in Carson City (large animals).
A Type 1 Team has been ordered in addition to the Type 3 Team and is expected to transition within the next 24-48 hours.
Road Closures: Old US 395A is now open; however Franktown Road remains closed.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. For further updates please visit www.sierrafront.net and http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5064/.
UPDATES BY WASHOE COUNTY:
Little Valley Fire 3:45 p.m.
Sand and sand bags are available at the following locations:
- 3101 Longley Lane , at connex box located north of admin building
- Truckee Meadow Volunteer Fire Station in Lemon Valley
- Sand Only is available at Gander and East Lake Blvd.
Additional sandbags can be made available through Washoe County Roads if needed. Call 328-2180 for on call supervisor.
Little Valley Fire 2:45 p.m.
Everyone who lives on the east side of Washoe Lake or the east side of I-580 can return home.
Evacuations for residents of the Galena, Montreaux, Joy Lake RD., and St. James neighborhoods can return home but need to be prepared to evacuate throughout the weekend if need be.
The west side of Washoe Lake from Bowers exit to the bottom of Franktown Rd. remains evacuated. Several local hotels are offering discounted room rates for those displaced by Friday’s fires.
Power is off through Saturday in the old 395 area to prevent arcing power lines in case the wind picks up.
If you evacuated your pets, please have them stay at the evacuation centers through the weekend.
Due to the fire, Waste Management will not be picking up garbage Friday. Anything left on the curb will be collected next Friday, Oct. 21, 2016.
Little Valley Fire 12:15 p.m. Update
Firefighters are estimating that 19 homes, seven outbuildings, and seven barns have been burned by the Little Valley Fire. The fire has now burned approximately 2,000 acres. More than 300 firefighters are fighting the blaze at this hour. Nearly 200 engines have been requested and are on their way to the burn area.
South Valleys Library is closed until further notice due to fire.
1 p.m. press briefing at the Nevada Division of Forestry Eastlake Fire Station. The address is 885 Eastlake Blvd., Carson City.
Little Valley Fire 11:15 a.m. Update
Firefighters are estimating that 18 structures have been damaged by the Little Valley Fire. The fire has now burned approximately 2,000 acres. More than 300 firefighters are fighting the blaze at this hour. Nearly 200 engines have been requested and are on their way to the burn area. South Valleys Library is closed until further notice due to fire. 1 p.m. press briefing at the Nevada Division of Forestry Eastlake Fire Station. The address is 885 Eastlake Blvd., Carson City.
All eastbound lanes and all but one westbound lane on Mt. Rose Hwy (NV 431) are back open.
Little Valley Fire 10:45 a.m. Update
Assistant County Manager Kevin Schiller declared a State of Emergency on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners following two brushfires.
“Declaring a State of Emergency allows us to increase capacity and resources to manage the fires,” said Schiller. “We thank our emergency responders who are working hard to protect citizens. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by these fires.”
Firefighters confirm structures have been damaged by the Little Valley Fire. The extent of damage and the number of structures impacted is not known at this time.
“There is zero containment on the Little Valley Fire. All of Washoe Valley is still considered to be at risk. Spot fires are a continual threat due to high winds in the area,” said Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Chief Charles Moore.
There is unified command with TMFPD, Nevada Division Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service. Moore said 125 engines have been ordered and are on their way in. Air support is ready as soon as conditions allow. Until then, there is a very aggressive hand crew attacking the blaze.
The Little Valley Fire started in the Franktown Road area at 2 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. The fire has currently burned more than 750 acres. Multiple structures are threatened and recommended evacuations are in place for residents in the Washoe Valley and Montreaux areas.
The fire is burning west of Franktown Road, moving north toward Bowers Mansion and Joy Lake Road.
Washoe County Regional Animal Services has set up an evacuation center at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. Hidden Valley Park Arena and Fuji Park in Carson City are available for residents with livestock. A veterinarian is set up at the Equestrian Center on Wells Avenue to treat any injured livestock.
Little Valley Fire 9 a.m. Update
Reno, Nevada. Oct. 14, 2016. The Little Valley Fire started in the Franktown Road area at 2 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, 2016. The fire has currently burned more than 750 acres. Multiple structures are threatened and recommended evacuations are in place for residents in the Washoe Valley area.
The fire is burning west of Franktown Road, moving north toward Bowers Mansion and Joy Lake Road. The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District is working with several other agencies to fight the blaze.
Washoe County Regional Animal Services has set up an evacuation center at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park for all residents with livestock that can be transported in trailers. All livestock evacuated by Washoe County can go to Hidden Valley Park Arena. Fuji Park in Carson City is also available. All small animals go to Depoali Middle School.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Updated school closures: Pleasant Valley Elementary, Galena High School, Hunsberger Elementary, Huffaker Elementary, Picollo, and Lenz Elementary
Road closures: Southbound I-580 is closed at Eastlake Blvd., 395A and SR 431, westbound at Mt. Rose Hwy.
The Commmand Post for the Little Valley Fire is at Washoe Valley Volunteer Fire Station at Bellevue and I-580.
Rolling Hills Fire Update
The Rolling Hills Fire sparked at approximately 7:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16, 2016 near Mt. Rose Hwy. and Edmonton Drive, north of Galena High School.
Evacuations for that area have been lifted for the following roads an streets: Telluride Drive, Solitude Drive, Sundance Drive, Thomas Creek Road, Deer Valley Court, Wedge Parkway, and Boulder Patch Drive.
The Rolling Hills Fire is 50 percent contained and holding at 15 acres.
Residents needing more info regarding these fires can call 775-337-5800.
The following Washoe County parks are closed:
- Bowers Regional
- Davis Creek Regional
- Galena Creek Regional
- Bartley Ranch Regional
Note: Rolling updates will be provided on this webpage and Twitter @TMFPD. #littlevalleyfire .
