Washoe Valley fire burns 12 acres

Bolstered by heavy air support and ground crews, a fire on Jumbo Grade on the east side of South Washoe Valley was quickly knocked down Thursday afternoon.

Reno Fire Department spokesman Steve Frady said the East Lake fire broke out around 2:30 p.m. Thursday along East Lake Boulevard and burned between 12 and 15 acres.

About eight homes were evacuated, Frady said.

No homes were damaged or lost.

Made up from state, federal and local units, 10 brush engines, six structure engines, four water tenders and two hand crews worked from the ground while two single-engine air tankers and two helicopters tackled the flames from the sky.

Frady said the cause is not known at this time.

Homeowner Craig Spurgeon who lives on Jumbo Grade Way said he first saw the fire when it was just 10 square feet in an area where NV Energy crews were working on power lines.

He said within five minutes, firefighters were on scene.

The fire "split" around his house into empty lots on either side and fire crews were quick to contain it, he said.