Around 200 firefighters are currently engaged in combatting a wildfire that ignited along the California-Nevada border, destroying one residence, shutting down Interstate 80 temporarily and posing a threat to hundreds of homes just west of Reno. The blaze, which emerged on Sunday evening, has scorched approximately 500 acres (200 hectares) along the Truckee River.
Thankfully, there have been no severe injuries reported due to the wildfire. Firefighters managed to prevent the fire from spreading significantly overnight, resulting in the reopening of the interstate, which links Reno to Sacramento and San Francisco. However, around 6,200 individuals are still without power, and fire officials are uneasy about the potential impact of escalating gusty winds on firefighting operations both on the ground and in the air throughout the night.
Adam Mayberry, a spokesperson for the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, estimated that roughly 400 homes in the vicinity are either currently under threat or could face danger if the fire expands. The area is under a red flag warning, with strong winds predicted by the National Weather Service in Reno, with potential gusts of up to 35 mph (55 kph).
A larger number of firefighters are anticipated to arrive by Monday evening as a federal interagency team takes over command. A temporary shelter and information hub have been established at a local library, although as per Mayberry, there have been no reports of evacuees at the location thus far. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, with investigations ongoing. At the peak of the incident on Sunday night, approximately 27,000 people were without power, but Nevada Energy has now managed to restore electricity to all except 6,286 individuals.
