Bug Fire grows along California-Nevada border near Reno; state of emergency declared in Nevada
By Tim Fang
A wildfire that started over the weekend along the California-Nevada border has exploded in size, burning more than 16,000 acres and prompting evacuations near Reno, officials said.
The fire, dubbed the “Bug Fire,” was first reported around 4:10 p.m. Saturday near Highway 395 and Bringman Road in Lassen County, about seven miles from the state line.
By Saturday night, the fire burned more than 6,500 acres and burned more than 11,000 acres by Sunday evening. The fire had also spread into neighboring Sierra County and into Washoe County in Nevada, north of the city of Reno.
As of Monday night, Cal Fire said the fire has burned 16,680 acres, with the containment at 3%. The Nevada Bureau of Land Management said the fire is spreading through critically dry fuels and hot and dry conditions.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo on Monday declared a state of emergency for areas of Washoe County and the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony impacted by both the Bug Fire and the nearby Fred Mountain Fire, which has burned more than 3,400 acres with no containment.
Lombardo said that more than 6,000 people have been evacuated, with thousands more under an evacuation warning.
“Thousands of Nevadans have been forced from their homes as these fires continue to threaten communities across Washoe County and the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. “The state is taking every available step to support local responders, protect lives and property, and ensure the resources necessary to confront these fires are where they are needed most.”
Over the weekend, evacuation orders were issued for areas north of the community of Cold Springs, about 20 miles northwest of Reno, and north of the Reno Stead Airport.
Monday evening, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office added new mandatory evacuation orders for the area of Winnemucca Ranch Road and urged residents to evacuate immediately.
An updated evacuation map can be found by visiting the Washoe Regional Emergency Information Center website.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries as of Monday morning.
The cause of the Bug Fire is under investigation.
