Updates on the Little Valley Fire

2,291 acres burned, 100 percent containment reported.

2,291 acres burned, 100 percent containment reported

Oct. 14 - 4 p.m. Update

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. For information call 775-684-2712. Residents impacted by the Little Valley Fire can call Washoe County hotline 775-328-2003.

Firefighters continue to monitor and patrol the fire perimeter. Crews will continue to work cleaning out portions of the Franktown ditch, drivers and cyclists should use caution and watch for crews working in the area along Franktown Road.

The Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) team made up of hydrologists, soil scientists, engineers, biologists, vegetation specialists, and archeologists will begin to rapidly evaluate the burned area and prescribe emergency stabilization treatments. For further information, please contact Cheryl Surface from Washoe County Community Services Department at csurface@washoecounty.us.

Although the fire area received significant rain October 15, 2016, conditions continue to dry and afternoon winds bring blowing ash and dust devils.

Fire suppression resources will continue to monitor and patrol the area for the foreseeable future. Some haze is being experienced and attributable to fires burning in California.

The incident transitioned from a local Type 3 organization to the local Nevada Division of Forestry unit Monday evening.

Little Valley Fire Update 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, 2016

Posted on behalf of the Sierra Front.

Date Started: 10/14/2016
Cause: Under Investigation
Total Personnel: 600
Injuries to Date: 4
Size: 2291 acres
Structures Threatened: 500
Percent Contained: 90%
Resources: 71 engines, 22 handcrews, 2 helicopters
Structures Lost: 23 homes, 17 outbuildings
Estimated Containment: Unknown

Washoe Valley, NV – The Little Valley Fire started in the Franktown Road area at 2 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The moisture we received over the last 48-72 hours was very helpful for firefighting efforts, and keeping the fire within the incident objective perimeter. Due to the break in the weather today, a helicopter mission was able to map the burned area and current acreage was updated to 2291 acres due to more accurate mapping. 

Firefighter and public safety remain to be the primary concern. Firefighters continued to secure the fire line, reinforce existing line and remove hazard trees in the burned area. The fire perimeter is now at 90% containment.

Residents tour burned area, allowed to return to properties Tuesday

Today, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, Washoe County, Great Basin Incident Management Team, Red Cross, and the Nevada National Guard began implementing the community reentry plan into the fire affected area. Residents whose homes are uninhabitable were escorted into the restricted area. Tomorrow all residents that were in the exclusion area will be allowed to return starting at 10 a.m. Residents are required to enter from the south end of Franktown Road and must show identification.

Evacuations: Structures are still threatened until 100% containment has been achieved. The mandatory evacuation is still in effect. The attached exclusion zone map shows the area that is currently restricted.

A residential guide for returning after extended power outages is attached and provides property owners with information on returning to residences after evacuation or power loss.

All Evacuation Centers have been deactivated. Red Cross will be available from 9am to 4pm Monday through Friday to assist residents with shelter, medication, medical accessories and supplies, they can be contacted at 775-954-1194.

Road Closures: Old US 395A is open; however Franktown Road remains closed below 6190 Franktown Road.

All flood watches have been lifted. Over the last 24 hours, 2.75” of rain was received over the fire affected area. A high pressure system is moving into the area with a warming trend and temperatures in the 70s by the end of the week.

For fire information please call 775-782-1429.

For further updates visit www.sierrafront.net and http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5064/ and Facebook http://bit.ly/2dh4XUs.

Little Valley Fire Update 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, 2016

Posted on behalf of the Sierra Front.

Acreage is holding at 2,291 acres with 90-percent containment.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. This fire was first reported at 1:38 a.m. on 10/14/2016, having started in the Little Valley/ Washoe Valley area.

Resources/personnel working the incident: total personnel = 600. 2 helicopters, 60 fire engines, 17 hand crews (20 firefighters each), and 50 overhead personnel. Kim Martin's Type 1 Great Basin Incident Command Team is managing the fire. Four injuries due to smoke inhalation were reported on the first day of the incident.

Firefighters continue to mop-up around homes, address hazard trees and smoldering stumps and secure the fire perimeter. Firefighter and public safety remain to be the primary concern. Washoe County officials have a reentry plan and will allow displaced residents to return to the area as soon as it is safe to do so. Great Basin Incident Management Team personnel in coordination with the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, Washoe County and utility companies are working together diligently to restore services in the fire affected area in order for residents to return safely.

Damage: 22 residences and 17-outbuildings were destroyed with 480-homes saved in the direct vicinity of the fire. Multiple structures remain under threat until 100-percent containment has been achieved.

Access to addresses higher than 6190 Franktown Road are now open; access to addresses lower than 6190 Franktown Rd remain closed and Old U.S. Highway 395A (open but Washoe County Sheriff's Office asks that citizens stay out of the area due to fire traffic, localized flooding and unstable ground). Interstate 580 is open in both directions.

Evacuations: displaced residents from their homes are being contacted directly by the Washoe County Sheriff's office. Re-entry safety guidelines will require coordination with fire management officials, law enforcement and utility companies before the area can be re-populated safely.

The Evacuation Center at Depaoli Middle School has been deactivated as all evacuees have found other accommodations so the school has returned to normal operation. UNR Equestrian Center and Fuji Park are no longer needed to support this incident as all horses that were sheltered have been claimed by their owners.

American Red Cross: Case Managers are now available at 775-954-1194 to assist homeowners who suffered structural losses during the Little Valley Fire.

Washoe County Animal Services: 775-322-3647 to assist small animal owners who suffered structural losses during the fire.

​Washoe County Social Services: Call 775-328-2003 for assistance to displaced homeowners, plus a nurse pracitioner is available for fire evacuees at 775-782-1429.

Follow Twitter fire updates at #littlevalleyfire.

Little Valley Fire Update 9 p.m. Sunday Oct. 16, 2016

Posted on behalf of the Sierra Front.

Date Started: 10/14/2016
Cause: Under Investigation
Total Personnel: 667
Injuries to Date: 4
Size: 3,400 acres
Structures Threatened: 500
Percent Contained: 55%
Resources: 130 engines, 19 handcrews
Structures Lost: 23 homes, 17 outbuildings
Estimated Containment: Unknown

The Little Valley Fire started in the Franktown Road area at 2 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The moisture we received over the last 48 hours was very helpful for firefighting efforts, and keeping the fire within the incident objective perimeter. The total acres remain at 3,400 with increased containment to 55 percent.

Firefighter and public safety remain to be the primary concern. Washoe County officials have a reentry plan and will allow displaced residents to return to the area as soon as it is safe to do so. Great Basin Incident Management Team personnel in coordination with the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, Washoe County and utility companies are working together diligently to restore services in the fire affected area in order for residents to return safely.

A residential guide for returning after extended power outages is here and provides property owners with information on returning to residences after evacuation or power loss (A map of the exclusion zone can be found here).

Although the main fire threat has been reduced from the rain received over the fire, hotspots remain. We encourage the public to view the following video taken this afternoon to see firsthand how hot the fire ground remains despite the rain. http://bit.ly/2dh6iuK 

Firefighters continue to mop-up around homes, address hazard trees and smoldering stumps and secure the fire perimeter. A flash flood watch was issued over the burned area today with localized flooding observed. Fire crews cleared clogged culverts to minimize flooding on fire access roads.

Evacuations

Multiple structures are still threatened until 100% containment has been achieved. Mandatory evacuations remain in place for Franktown Road below the address of 6190 Franktown Road. The attached exclusion zone map shows the area that is currently restricted.

The Evacuation Center at Depaoli Middle School has been deactivated as all evacuees have found other accommodations, and the school has returned to normal operation. UNR Equestrian Center and Fuji Park are no longer needed to support this incident as all horses that were sheltered have been claimed by their owners.
Red Cross will be available tomorrow from 9am to 4pm to assist residents with shelter, medication, medical accessories and supplies, they can be contacted at 775-954-1194.

Road Closures

Old US 395A is open; however Franktown Road remains closed below 6190 Franktown Road.

For fire information please call 775-782-1429.

For further updates visit www.sierrafront.net and http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5064/ and Facebook http://bit.ly/2dh4XUs.

Twitter Updates

Little Valley Fire Update 11 a.m. Sunday Oct. 16, 2016 

A press briefing is scheduled for 1pm today, Sunday October 16, 2016 located at the Little Valley Fire incident command post, 885 East Lake Blvd. The purpose of the press briefing is to discuss the current hazards in the fire affected area that are preventing residents from returning to their home. Re-entry safety guidelines will require coordination with fire management officials, law enforcement and utility companies before the area can be re-populated safely. For information please call 775-782-1429.

Little Valley Fire Update 10:30a.m. Sunday Oct. 16, 2016 

The Little Valley Fire started in the Franktown Road area at 2 a.m. on Friday, Oct, 14, 2016. The moisture we received over the last 48 hours was very helpful for firefighting efforts and keeping the fire within the incident objective perimeter. The total acres remain at 3400. It is estimated that approximately 480 homes have been saved in the fire area.

Firefighter and Public Safety remain our primary concern. A flash flood watch is in effect over the fire area, we ask that citizens avoid the area due to potential flooding. Residents who will be allowed to visit homes will be contacted directly by Washoe County Sheriff’s office. Although the main fire threat has been reduced from the rain received over the fire, the public will continue to see smokes from the interior of the fire perimeter. Today, firefighters will continue to mop up around structures to ensure safe entry by returning residents and improve the fire line perimeter. Franktown Road remains closed.

Evacuations:  Multiple structures are still threatened until 100% containment has been achieved. Mandatory evacuations remain in place for Franktown Road below the address of 6190 Franktown Road.

The Evacuation Center at Depoali Middle School (people and small animals) has been closed but remains equipped, and the UNR Equestrian Center (large animals) and Fuji Park in Carson City (large animals) remain open.

Road Closures:  Old US 395A is open; however Franktown Road remains closed below 6190 Franktown Road. The open area has expanded to the address of 6190 Franktown Road and above.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.  For fire information please call 775-782-1429.

Little Valley Fire Update 7p.m. Saturday Oct. 15, 2016 

The Little Valley Fire started in the Franktown Road area at 2 a.m. on Friday, Oct, 14, 2016. The moisture we received over the last 48 hours was very helpful for firefighting efforts and keeping the fire within the incident objective perimeter. The total acres remain at 3460. It is estimated that approximately 480 homes have been saved in the fire area.

The Sierra Front Type 3 Incident Management Team will transition the fire at 6 p.m. to Kim Martin’s Type I Great Basin Incident Management Team. The teams will work together to ensure a smooth transition while continuing to manage the fire.  Firefighter and Public Safety remain our primary concern. We ask the public to please avoid the area as Franktown Road remains closed. 

Evacuations:  Multiple structures are threatened. Mandatory evacuations remain in place for Franktown Road below the address of 6190 Franktown Road. 

The Evacuation Center at Depoali Middle School (people and small animals) has been closed but remains equipped, and the UNR Equestrian Center (large animals) and Fuji Park in Carson City (large animals) remain open.

Road Closures:  Old US 395A is now open; however Franktown Road remains closed below 6190 Franktown Road. The open area has expanded to the address of 6190 Franktown Road and above.

For evacuation and fire information please call 775-782-1429.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Little Valley Fire update from Sierra Front Update 9:30 p.m.

Sierra Front officials say the Little Valley Fire has burned 22 homes and 17 outbuildings.

Little Valley Fire 6:30 p.m. update

Correction: Due to unsafe conditions, residents who live in Washoe Valley and Franktown Rd., aren't allowed to return to their property to inspect damage.

Little Valley Fire 5:30 p.m. update

Sierra Front is taking over command of the Little Valley Fire and messaging. Sierra Front is holding a press conference at 7 p.m. at the Nevada Division of Forestry Fire Station on Eastlake Blvd. Follow Sierra Front on Twitter @Mindendispatch for updates throughout the evening.

The Little Valley Fire has burned 23 homes, seven outbuildings, and seven barns.

Residents of Franktown Rd. and west Washoe Valley are asked to call 775-328-2003 as soon as possible. Washoe County is compiling a list of residents whose homes have potentially been affected by the fire. The phone line gives residents an opportunity to get and receive information.

“We are diligently working to make sure residents who call into the line are able to get the help they need in a timely manner,” said Washoe County Commission Vice Chair Bob Lucey (Dist. 2). “Our thoughts are with the community at this time. Rest assured, we are doing all we can to meet the needs of those affected by this fire.”

Please encourage family, friends and colleagues who live in the above area to call 775-328-2003. Please note that we will continue to man the general citizen fire information hotline, 775-337-5800.

Little Valley Fire Update 11 a.m Saturday 10/15/2016

Residents in the Washoe Valley area affected by the Little Valley Fire are not being allowed back into the area to tour their homes at this time due to dangerous conditions.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District announced that decision this morning. TMFPD Chief Charlie Moore said the weather, along with damage from the fire have created a very dangerous situation. “We’re not allowing residents to tour the properties because there are still hot spots from the fire, no power, no gas, high winds, and the possibility of burned trees falling in these affected areas.”

Currently, public service personnel and utility workers are the only people allowed into the affected area to assess property damage.

Family, friends and colleagues who live in the above area can call 775-328-2003.
Other questions regarding the Little Valley Fire and surrounding area are being directed to the information hotline, 775-337-5800.

Little Valley Fire 3:45 p.m. Update

Sand and sand bags are available at the following locations:

• 3101 Longley Lane , at connex box located north of admin building
• Truckee Meadow Volunteer Fire Station in Lemon Valley
• Sand Only is available at Gander and East Lake Blvd. 

Additional sandbags can be made available through Washoe County Roads if needed. Call 328-2180 for on call supervisor. 

Little Valley Fire 2:45 p.m.

Everyone who lives on the east side of Washoe Lake or the east side of I-580 can return home.

Evacuations for residents of the Galena, Montreaux, Joy Lake RD., and St. James neighborhoods can return home but need to be prepared to evacuate throughout the weekend if need be.

The west side of Washoe Lake from Bowers exit to the bottom of Franktown Rd. remains evacuated. Several local hotels are offering discounted room rates for those displaced by Friday's fires.

Power is off through Saturday in the old 395 area to prevent arcing power lines in case the wind picks up.

If you evacuated your pets, please have them stay at the evacuation centers through the weekend.

Due to the fire, Waste Management will not be picking up garbage Friday. Anything left on the curb will be collected next Friday, Oct. 21, 2016.

Little Valley Fire 12:15 p.m. Update

Firefighters are estimating that 19 homes, seven outbuildings, and seven barns have been burned by the Little Valley Fire. The fire has now burned approximately 2,000 acres. More than 300 firefighters are fighting the blaze at this hour. Nearly 200 engines have been requested and are on their way to the burn area.

South Valleys Library is closed until further notice due to fire.

1 p.m. press briefing at the Nevada Division of Forestry Eastlake Fire Station. The address is 885 Eastlake Blvd., Carson City.

Little Valley Fire 11:15 a.m. Update

Firefighters are estimating that 18 structures have been damaged by the Little Valley Fire. The fire has now burned approximately 2,000 acres. More than 300 firefighters are fighting the blaze at this hour. Nearly 200 engines have been requested and are on their way to the burn area. South Valleys Library is closed until further notice due to fire. 1 p.m. press briefing at the Nevada Division of Forestry Eastlake Fire Station. The address is 885 Eastlake Blvd., Carson City.

All eastbound lanes and all but one westbound lane on Mt. Rose Hwy (NV 431) are back open.

Little Valley Fire 10:45 a.m. Update

Reno, Nevada. Oct. 14, 2016. Assistant County Manager Kevin Schiller declared a State of Emergency on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners following two brushfires.

“Declaring a State of Emergency allows us to increase capacity and resources to manage the fires,” said Schiller. “We thank our emergency responders who are working hard to protect citizens. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by these fires.”

Firefighters confirm structures have been damaged by the Little Valley Fire. The extent of damage and the number of structures impacted is not known at this time.

“There is zero containment on the Little Valley Fire. All of Washoe Valley is still considered to be at risk. Spot fires are a continual threat due to high winds in the area,” said Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Chief Charles Moore.

There is unified command with TMFPD, Nevada Division Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service. Moore said 125 engines have been ordered and are on their way in. Air support is ready as soon as conditions allow. Until then, there is a very aggressive hand crew attacking the blaze.

The Little Valley Fire started in the Franktown Rd. area at 2 a.m. on Friday, Oct, 14, 2016. The fire has currently burned more than 750 acres. Multiple structures are threatened and recommended evacuations are in place for residents in the Washoe Valley  and Montreaux areas.

The fire is burning west of Franktown Rd., moving north toward Bowers Mansion and Joy Lake Rd.

Washoe County Regional Animal Services has setup an evacuation center at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park for livestock that can stay in the trailer. Hidden Valley Park Arena will take horses. Any cattle needs to go to Silver Saddle Ranch located 2648 Carson River Rd. Fuji Park in Carson City will take horses and goats. A veterinarian is setup at the Equestrian Center on Valley Rd. to treat any injured livestock. Small animals are only being taken at Depoali Middle School.

Little Valley Fire 9 a.m. Update

The Little Valley Fire started in the Franktown Rd. area at 2 a.m. on Friday, Oct, 16, 2016. The fire has currently burned more than 750 acres. Multiple structures are threatened and reccommended evacuations are in place for residents in the Washoe Valley area.

The fire is burning west of Franktown Rd., moving north toward Bowers Mansion and Joy Lake Rd. The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District is working with several other agencies to fight the blaze.

Washoe County Regional Animal Services has setup an evacuation center at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park for all residents with livestock that can be transported in trailers. All livestock evacuated by Washoe County can go to Hidden Valley Park Arena. Fuji Park in Carson City is also available. All small animals go to Depoali Middle School.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Updated school closures: Pleasant Valley Elementary, Galena High School, Hunsberger Elementary, Huffaker Elementary, Picollo, and Lenz Elementary

Road closures: Southbound I-580 is closed at Eastlake Blvd., 395A and SR 431, westbound at Mt. Rose Hwy.

The Commmand Post for the Little Valley Fire is at Washoe Valley Volunteer Fire Station at Bellevue and I-580.

Rolling Hills Fire Update

The Rolling Hills Fire sparked just at approximately 7:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16, 2016 near Mt. Rose Hwy., and Edmonton Dr., north of Galena High School.

Evacuations for that area have been lifted for the following roads an streets: Telluride Dr., Solitude Dr., Sundance Dr., Thomas Creek Rd, Deer Valley Ct., Wedge Pkwy., and Boulder Patch Dr.

The Rolling Hills Fire is 50 percent contained and holding at 15 acres.

Residents needing more info regarding these fires can call 775-337-5800.

The following Washoe County parks are closed:

• Bowers Regional
• Davis Creek Regional
• Galena Creek Regional
• South Valleys Regional

View map of the Little Valley Fire.

Note: Rolling updates will be provided on this webpage and Twitter @TMFPD. #littlevalleyfire .

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