Wildfires send tower of smoke visible from Las Vegas
Firefighters in Nevada are battling a pair of large wind-whipped wildfires burning in mountainous terrain, one northwest of Las Vegas that has sent up a tower of smoke visible from the city.
The Clark County Department of Air Quality issued a health advisory for Las Vegas that officials said would remain in effect through Sunday.
The lightning-sparked Carpenter 1 fire, about 25 miles northwest of the city, grew to 19,757 acres or about 30 square miles. The fire, which started July 1 on the western side of Mt. Charleston near Pahrump, spread quickly into rugged terrain with limited accessibility. Dry conditions and strong, erratic winds have stoked the flames.
About 500 people have been evacuated from scattered homes in the Kyle, Lee, Harris Springs and Lovell canyon communities. Officials have also closed two state highways into the canyons.
Close to 900 firefighters are on the lines. Crews were preparing Tuesday for potential burnout operations behind houses through the canyon, said fire spokeswoman Madonna Lengerich. The fire is only 15% contained, but officials were optimistic that the blaze was heading into more favorable terrain, Lengerich said.
About $4.8 million had already been spent fighting the fire, officials said. The Spring Mountains area is popular among Las Vegas residents as a recreation destination above the desert, with hiking trails through canyons and meadows.
A second lightning-sparked fire, meanwhile, is burning in northern Nevada in the Pine Nut Mountain range, southwest of Reno. Officials have closed roads leading over the mountains and asked the public to stay away from the area.
The fire, which broke out July 4, is burning through dead trees and dense pinion pine on public lands, Native American allotment lands and private lands about five miles east of Gardnerville. Two fire camps are set up on either side of the range in Douglas and Lyon counties.
The Bison fire has more than doubled in size over the past two days, stoked by high winds. It swelled to 25,700 acres Monday morning, or about 40 square miles, sending up a swirling plume of smoke visible for miles.
More than 700 firefighters are working against steep terrain, windy conditions and low humidity to build fire lines. Crews made progress Monday building hard lines around the fire, fire spokeswoman Elayne Briggs said, and will continue to work to build lines and mop up some areas while making direct attacks in others. Winds are predicted to pick up in the afternoon to 15-20 mph, gusting to about 35 mph.
The blaze was 25% contained as of Tuesday morning.
No homes have been destroyed. Officials said several old structures in the Slater Mine area burned. Crews are also hoping to protect wildlife habitats, including those of winter deer and black bears.
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