Wildfire near Nevada-California border is 15% contained
Firefighters have made progress in containing the Topaz Ranch Estates fire in rural Nevada near the California border, increasing the containment area to 15%, officials said Thursday.
The fire has consumed more than 7,000 acres and is being fought by 575 personnel, officials said. Full containment is expected Saturday.
According to the Sierra Front Interagency fire office, officials believe the fire may have been caused by an illegal burn that wasn’t properly extinguished. The burn most likely took place over the weekend.
The fire, which was reported Tuesday, has destroyed two homes and 17 outbuildings, officials said. All evacuation orders have been lifted, but about 120 residences and 300 outbuildings remain in danger.
No deaths or injuries have been reported.
The fire area is about 350 miles from Las Vegas, where a sooty haze could reportedly be seen.
The burn area is cheat grass, sagebrush, pinon pine and juniper forest and the terrain includes steep, rocky slopes in the foothills of the Pine Nut Mountains.
In addition to the firefighters, at least four air tankers and five helicopters were at the scene.
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