BLM firefighters gain upper hand

The second wildland fire in less than three weeks in Churchill County has been contained with minimal fire behavior, reports the Carson City District of the Bureau of Land Management.

The BLM said there is some smoldering within the burn’s interior.

Lisa Ross, BLM public affairs specialist, said crews are mopping up the area. She said firefighters had to be transported by helicopter to the inaccessible site between Hare and Cottonwood canyons on the Dixie Valley Side.

The fire began Tuesday afternoon, burning in pinion-juniper trees, sagebrush and grass in steep, rocky terrain.

The fire burned between 50-60 acres on Tuesday and increased in size Wednesday afternoon to 82 acres. During the initial attack on the fire. The Sierra Front dispatch center reported nine single engine air tankers, two helicopters, three hand crews and three engines with a total of 80 personnel were assigned to the fire.

As the fire spread, Sierra Front said the indirect attack included retardant and water, while direct attack from the crew included hand-line construction with bucket work from helicopters.

Sierra Front said it estimated 100 percent control of the fire sometime Thursday. Further work on the fire will include hand crews mopping up and helicopters performing bucket work.