Truckee Meadows Fire Update

Incident Command to be shifted at 8 a.m. Saturday

6:50 p.m. Update - Incident Command to be shifted at 8 a.m. Saturday

Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Chief Charlie Moore said that incident command for the Rock Fire and Virginia Mountains Complex fire will be shifted to the Type 2 Overhead Management Team at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

"The scale and complexity of this fire requires that we transfer this to the Type 2 team so that regional resources can be released to their home jurisdiction," Moore said.

The Rock Fire remains at 50 percent contained. There is no containment on the Virginia Mountains Complex. No structures are being threatened at this time, but TMFPD crews will monitor activity near homes as a safety precaution.

This is the final planned release of the evening. The call center for residents that was established Thursday will close at 8 p.m. on Friday. For the latest updates, follow @TMFPD on Twitter. For emergencies, call 9-1-1.

5:30 p.m. Update - Rock Fire 50 percent contained

The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District is reporting that the Rock Fire north of Reno is 50 percent contained and the total acreage burned has decreased to 1,500 acres. No structures are being threatened at this time.

The Red Flag Warning remains in place until around 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

Noon Update - Fire Chief, National Weather Service warn of afternoon fire danger. Update on names of fires burning.

Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Chief Charlie Moore has advised residents to be prepared for high fire danger Friday afternoon due to projected thunderstorms, high winds and hot temperatures in Washoe County.

The National Weather Service in Reno said that dry lightning strikes could start as soon as 1 p.m. on Friday and that wind gusts could reach 50 MPH. Residents are encouraged to be prepared for evacuations if conditions are similar to Thursday's activity. Tips can be found on TMFPD's website. Moore said structure protection continues to be paramount.

Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center reported name changes to the current fires. There were originally four fires, now those fires are being renamed into two fires, the "Rock Fire" north of Red Rock and the "Virginia Mountains Complex" southwest of Pyramid Lake.

Originally, there were four active fires: Rock Fire, Tule Fire, Sage Fire and Seven Lakes Fire. The Tule, Sage and Seven Lakes fires have been combined into one because of they are all brush fires close in proximity. The Rock Fire is the only fire to threaten structures, though no structures were lost and no injuries were reported.

Approximately 12,000 acres have been burned from the four original fires. 

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Land Management are reminding residents that flying drones near a brush fire can negatively affect fire operations. If a drone is sighted near a fire, air operation could be pulled off duty until the area is cleared, which impacts fire protection.

12:15 a.m. Update - 1500 acres burned, no injuries reported

Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District is battling the “Rock Fire” near Red Rock with more than 1,500 acres burned. No structures have been lost and no injuries have been reported. Here are some facts about the fire as of 12:10 a.m.

• Voluntary evacuations are in place. Families and small animals may go to O’Brien Middle School.
• TMFPD is the lead but multiple agencies and more than 200 personnel are fighting the fire.
• Crews are flanking the fire through the night focused on structure protection.
• More crews from around the region will be assisting.
• Air support was used Thursday night and will resume Friday morning.
• An information line has been set up, call 775-337-5800 for fire related information.
• Large animals can be evacuated to the Livestock Events Center.
• Search and rescue volunteers assisted deputies from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and officers from Reno Sparks Indian Colony with voluntary evacuations.
• Bulldozers have been deployed to fight the fire.
• Other fires in the region include the Tule Fire. No structures are being threatened. No other updates are available.
• Another fire north of the Rock Fire is also burning. Resources have been deployed but no updates are available.

TMFPD's Silver Lake, Lemon Valley and Red Rock Volunteers have been instrumental in fighting the Rock Fire. Additional TMFPD Volunteers are providing coverage throughout the rest of the District.

More details will be provided on the @TMFPD and @WashoeSheriff Twitter accounts.

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