Badger Fire squashed while Mother Nature threatens more flames

The Badger fire, a wildfire that burned 736 acres of land east of Carson City beginning Tuesday, was officially declared controlled Saturday at 6 p.m. while elsewhere, fire crews quickly mopped up a quarter-acre fire in Washoe Valley and watched the skies for lightning activity, the ignition for many wild blazes.

"Badger is a done deal," said Bud Ives, information officer for the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch late Saturday. "It's doing nothing at the moment."

Ives said the cause of the first major Northern Nevada fire of the season was still under investigation.

A quarter-acre fire in the vicinity of Franktown and Old Ranch road in Washoe Valley was put out less than 15 minutes after it was reported, around 12:20 p.m. Saturday.

Ives said the agency was watching clusters of lightning activity popping up around the Bridgeport area in extreme northeastern California, some 80 miles away from Carson.

At 4:40 p.m., the lighting had started four known fires in the Risue Canyon area, covering about 1-2 acres in total.

According to Ives, most were minimal, one or two-tree fires and none threatened any structures. Air and ground units were on-scene and responding.

Ives said he expected the agency to make another reconnaissance flight to the area later Saturday evening to keep an eye on the situation.

"Predicted thunderstorms in the area are a major concern for firefighters throughout the weekend," he said.