Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District is warning residents of high-fire danger today as the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning from 1 p.m.-10 p.m.
Gusty winds and low humidity are expected, which means the region, especially northern Washoe County, can expect hazardous fire weather conditions with winds 15-25 MPH and gusts up to 35 MPH.
Truckee Meadows Fire crews have resources deployed on five fires within the Virginia Mountain Complex. On Monday additional resources were deployed to assist with the Poodle Fire north of Gerlach. The Virginia Mountain Complex was burning nearly 50,000 acres as of Monday afternoon, and the Poodle Fire is estimated to be at over 5,000 acres, all caused by dry lightning and spread by wind.
Several evacuations took place, and Pyramid Lake is still closed to the public until further notice while crews use the lake to fill aircraft battling the fires. The already-hazardous conditions at ongoing fires will become even more hazardous Tuesday.
“A Red Flag Warning has been issued, and this means conditions are ideal for combustion and rapid spread,” TMFPD Chief Charles Moore said. “We are facing high fire danger Tuesday for the threat of new fires as we continue to assist battling six major fires in Washoe County. In addition to winds rapidly spreading a fire like we’ve witnessed since Thursday, we typically cannot call for air support in high winds, which is a critical resource. We call on citizens to consider prevention and precaution during their activities while we are under a Red Flag Warning.”
Residents are reminded to avoid outdoor activities that can cause a spark near dry vegetation such as yard work or target shooting, and operating motorized vehicles and equipment on dry vegetation, and to be aware that new fire restrictions are in effect on public lands this summer.
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