The biggest attraction in Virginia City on Saturday afternoon wasn't the history, it was the monstrous plume of smoke engulfing the northern horizon.
As of 10:30 p.m. Saturday, the Six Mile fire had burned more than 1,000 acres along Six Mile Canyon, using steep terrain, extremely dry fuels and wind gusts to change directions several times during the afternoon.
The fire is located three miles up-canyon from Mark Twain and two miles down-canyon from Virginia City.
The fire started from a lightning strike Friday night but was drenched by rain, knocking down the flames. However, the fire rekindled Saturday afternoon as temperatures increased and the ground dried out.
Down-canyon winds pushed the fire towards Mark Twain. Erratic winds from thunderstorms in the area caused gusty and chaotic fire behavior. The initial structural concerns were in the Virginia City Highlands, until the fire shifted toward Mark Twain. Late Saturday evening the flames turned again on a northern path towards the highlands.
The lack of vehicle access to the fire area further hampered containment efforts Saturday evening.
A Type 1 Incident Management Team was reassigned from the Jackass fire to oversee suppression efforts.
More than 150 personnel from Storey and Lyon counties, Carson City, South Lake Tahoe, Nevada Division of Forestry, Sierra Fire Protection District, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service were called to help battle the fire.
Ground crews were supported by two small planes, one large bomber and a helicopter for most of the day, but air support stopped as night fell.
The 50-foot high flames could be seen from the residential areas along Highway 50 in Dayton, prompting concerns about the fires continued march down the canyon.
Storey County Fire Prevention Officer Eric Guevin said that no evacuations were anticipated as of 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
"The fire shifted dramatically on us. It was moving southeast and now it has shifted towards residential neighborhoods," Guevin said.
Despite the direction change, Guevin said crews had an established fire line and buffer set up that would help to protect the neighborhood.
Two residences in Seven Mile Canyon were voluntarily evacuated at about 10 p.m. Saturday.
Power was out for short periods of time in parts of Dayton and Mark Twain, but almost all power was restored by Saturday late afternoon.
Steamboat power lines in the area were also threatened, according to Guevin.
Even though no other evacuations were anticipated, officials are urging residents in areas that could be threatened by fire to prepare ahead of time.
"We need residents to be prepared. To have a plan and to know how they are going to evacuate if it becomes necessary," Guevin said.
• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.
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