Shannon Litz/Nevada Appeal
Firefighters expect to have the 150-acre Holbrook fire contained by this morning.
A quick response and some lucky winds slowed down the wildfire that started in western Topaz Ranch Estates, flew over Gold Hill, threatening Holbrook Junction, and then burned back around to wind up near its point of origin. At the end of the day, no homes were lost.
According to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatcher Helen Frazier, firefighters have the blaze 75 percent contained, and will spend the night dousing hotspots.
The wind wasn't the only thing that helped extinguish the blaze. Some rain in the area helped cool the fire and reduced the threat to homes.
At one point, Douglas County deputies and members of the Sheriff's Search & Rescue were knocking on doors telling residents along Sandstone Drive their homes were in danger.
The fire also forced the closure of Highway 208 from Holbrook Junction to Albite for about an hour while crews fought to keep the fire from jumping the highway. The road is now open with the Nevada Highway Patrol maintaining controls. Frazier said motorists should expect a 10-minute delay.
Eight handcrews along with air tankers, helicopters, bulldozers and more than a dozen fire engines from as far away as Reno and Lake Tahoe responded to the fire.
The Holbrook fire was first reported at 12:29 p.m. near Pearl and Breccia in Topaz Ranch Estates. It swept up Gold Hill threatening Holbrook Junction and prompting authorities to warn residents of the trailer park there they might have to evacuate. Thunderstorm cells in the area drove the winds back to the east and the fire threatened the northwest corner of Topaz Ranch Estates.
In addition to East Fork Fire District units, engines from Lake Tahoe, Mono County, Lyon County and even Reno responded to the blaze.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it is believed to have been started by human action.