Draw Fire update

The Draw Fire, which was reported saturday, is burning 60 miles east of Fallon near Cold Springs.

As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 26,000 acres have burned. At times, the Nevadqa Department of transportation has closed U.S. Highway 50 because of smoke or fire edging toward the highway. For road information contact 511/1-877-NV-ROADS, on-line http://www.nvroads.com.

The western, southern and the lower eastern segments of the fire are now mostly secured with constructed fire line and burned out areas toward the interior. Small pockets of unburnt fuel will continue to burn inside the lines. On the northern part of the fire, work continues to protect homes in the Alpine Ranch area. In areas on the north edge where it’s difficult to put ground forces in, lines were constructed by dozers and burned wider. In this area firefighters observed the winds did not align with the terrain, which kept the fire in smaller spots.

On the fire’s northwestern segment, four crews are building line northward and will stay in a spike camp in that area. Crews in the northern operating area will continue working to protect structures and private property. Lines in the contained areas will continue to be monitored. Air tankers and other resources are expected available if necessary on most of the fire, so long as weather conditions allow.

The priority remains firefighter and public safety – to Protect Human Life. Objectives are to protect threatened residences and outbuildings. Fires continue to burn fiercely across Nevada in part because there is a 200-500% increase in the density of cheat grass due to last winter’s rainfall. Concentrated efforts continue to protect Sage Grouse habitat, wild horse grazing areas (firefighters have observed the wild horses moving ahead of the fire, out of harms way), Wilderness Study Area, high voltage power transmission lines, the power substation, Pony Express Trail, as well as the Tungsten Geo Thermal Generating Plant currently under construction.

The Bureau of Land Management Carson City District Office assigned a fourth READ, REsource ADvisor, to advise and support firefighters in doing the best job possible containing and controlling the fire utilizing MIST (Minimal Impact Suppression Tactics) to contain and control the wildfire while having the least amount of impact on the Wilderness Study Area, Sage Grouse and Wild Horse areas.

RESOURCES ON THE FIRE: 15 20-person crews, 7 engines, 4 Bulldozers, 5 helicopters, 5 water tenders Total Personnel: 468.