Twelve wildfires are burning in Nevada, but good news came Monday with full containment of the mammoth Conner Fire.
At 17,714 acres, the blaze just south of Carson City in Douglas County is the largest fire so far this year in the Silver State.
“It’s very dry and hot out there,” federal Bureau of Land Management spokesperson Lisa Ross told The Center Square as she discussed the Conner Fire.
The blaze was described as fully contained Monday morning by the Nevada Fire Info website.
The other fires are mostly along Interstate 80. A Red Flag Warning has been issued across Central Nevada.
“Most of our wildfires are human-caused, so just be as careful as you can and take the right precautions,” Ross said at the BLM’s Carson City office. “Have a shovel and water, in case you do have a fire. Report it immediately.”
Six new fires have popped up across Nevada in the last 24 hours ahead of a multi-county weather warning for high and dry temperatures mixed with gusty winds. Several smaller fires are currently burning near Winnemucca, where the largest at 18 acres is known to have been caused by a person.
“Limit your recreation activity such as target shooting and other activities that could start a fire,” warned Ross. “That includes driving out on dry grass, because the tires can actually start a fire.”
The biggest wildfire warning to watch across Nevada in the coming days is in the central part of the state. Currently only a small roughly acre-sized fire burns in Northern Nye County, but a Red Flag Warning has announced for 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday in the region.
The warning for gusty winds and low humidity will be in effect across Northern Nye, Southern Lander and Southern Eureka counties. The National Weather Service said winds are expected between 20 and 35 mph, which means critical fire conditions.
“A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity values, and hot temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior,” said the National Weather Service warning.
Dangerous fire-prone weather conditions heading into July Fourth celebrations may remind Nevadans of the 2018 Martin Fire. It blazed across over 400,000 acres. Helped along by invasive grasses, the historic wildfire was believed to have been started by campers celebrating Independence Day with fireworks.
