Preacher, Douglas County, NV

Preacher, Carson City District, BLM. Transfer of command from IMT 2 (Chadwick) back to the local unit will occur today. Seven miles southeast of Gardnerville, NV. Timber, brush and short grass. Minimal fire behavior. Reduction in acreage due to more accurate mapping.

July 29, 2017 at 7:52 AM

As fire managers anticipate 100% containment by this evening, this will be the last update for the Preacher Fire. Five crews, and six engines will finish securing the line and mopping up hot spots today as well as completing fire suppression repair to meet objectives provided by the land management agencies.

July 28, 2017 at 9:03 AM

Fire resources took advantage of better weather yesterday as lighter winds enabled crews and engines to secure more line and mop up hotspots further into the interior. Fire suppression repair begins today to repair damage resulting from fire suppression activities and to return the affected area to pre-existing conditions as much as possible.

Resources: 10 crews, 9 engines, and 1 dozer

Wildfire behavior is largely contingent upon weather and fuel conditions. A wet winter and spring has led to tall, dry grass in Nevada that will quickly carry a fire. As this fire gains containment, don’t forget how easily another can start.

Motorists are responsible for many of the wildfires sparked along our roadways. Nearly all these fire starts could be prevented by following these safety rules:

Secure Chains
• Practice safe towing. Dragging chains throws sparks. Use appropriate safety pins and hitch ball to secure chains.

No Dragging Parts
• Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained, with nothing dragging on the ground.

Check Tire Pressure
• Maintain proper tire pressure. Driving on exposed wheel rims will throw sparks.

Carry a fire extinguisher in your vehicle and learn how to use it.
• Don’t drive your vehicle onto dry grass or brush. Hot exhaust pipes and mufflers can start fires that you won’t even see—until it’s too late!

Properly Maintain Brakes
• Brakes worn too thin may cause metal to metal contact, which can cause a spark.

July 27, 2017 at 9:02 PM

Air and ground resources had a very successful day today. Fire behavior today was minimal.

Firefighters continued to secure the fire perimeter, and as hot spots remain in the grass and trees, they are mopping up the fire to extinguish these hot spots to reduce the likelihood of fire escaping the perimeter.

Resources: 16 crews, 5 helicopters,19 engines, 2 dozers, and 1 water tender.

High pressure builds back into the region with drier air and warming temperatures. Winds will increase each afternoon. Temperatures will increase to above normal over the next few days. Overnight humidity recoveries will worsen into the weekend. There are slight chances of showers and thunderstorms Friday and Saturday afternoons.

July 27, 2017 at 9:08 AM

Air and ground resources were very successful yesterday holding the fire as strong winds moved over the area.

As the western and eastern edges are in extremely steep terrain, additional crews have been assigned to these areas where access by engines is limited. Dozers have made excellent progress on the northern edge of the fire and crews will continue today to secure the line.

Resources will work to secure the fire perimeter, and as hot spots remain in the grass and trees, they will continue to work at mopping up the fire to extinguish these hot spots to reduce the likelihood of fire escaping the perimeter.

Additional initial attack resources consisting of engines, water tenders, and a dozer are strategically placed in and around the fire near the communities for a quick response should any fire escape the perimeter or any new fires start in the area.

A road closure remains on Pine Nut Road #2 to non-essential traffic.

July 25, 2017 at 9:14 PM

Stacy Saucedo’s Sierra Front Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) assumed command of the fire Tuesday morning. Aviation and ground forces aggressively worked the fire since early Monday morning, when a lightning bust sparked the fire. High winds pushed the fire past retardant lines Monday, threatening structures and resulting in evacuations.
Scattered thunderstorms continued with gusty, unpredictable winds. However, the storms brought precipitation that helped to slow the fire spread throughout the day, and crews were able to gain 20% containment on the fire despite the increase in growth, currently at 4,651 acres. The terrain is demanding and dangerous for crews. Challenges include numerous mineshafts in the area, washed out roads, fuel moistures that have hit critical levels, along with erratic winds.

July 25, 2017 at 8:40 PM

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office lifted all evacuations on the Preacher Fire, effective 5p.m. this evening. Pinenut Road #2 was closed to non-essential traffic at 8a.m. due to heavy fire traffic and fire activity. The road is still only accessible to fire personnel and residents with I.D. Due to a computer programming issue the acreage on the Preacher Fire has been corrected to 4,651 acres with 20% containment. Douglas County Sheriff Office and Nevada Highway Patrol are working with Nevada Department of Transportation to update the reader boards along Highway 395 from China Springs to Minden warning drivers of low visibility due to smoke.

The Preacher fire is located in Douglas County, seven miles southeast of Gardnerville, NV. The fire was started by lightning around 3:30 a.m. on 7/24/17. The fire is burning in grass, sagebrush and scattered pinyon-juniper. Aviation and ground forces attacked the fire throughout the day. Issues facing firefighters include; open mine shafts, thunderstorms in the vicinity of the fire, rough, inaccessible terrain, washed out roads, dry receptive fuels and limited road access.

A Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team (Chadwick) is scheduled to take over command of the fire tomorrow morning. It is anticipated that complete containment will occur on July 29.

July 25, 2017 at 2:24 PM

The Incident Management Team flew the Preacher Fire this morning to assess the situation and to provide updated acreage of the fire, which is currently at 7,651 acres. Douglas County Sheriff Office and Nevada Highway Patrol are working with Nevada Department of Transportation to update the reader boards along Highway 395 from China Springs to Minden warning drivers of low visibility due to smoke.

July 25, 2017 at 7:58 AM

Injuries to Date: 1
Structures Threatened: 400

Resources: 12 engines, 3 water tenders, 7 handcrews, 7 helicopters, 11 fixed wing aircraft, 2 dozers.

Stacy Saucedo’s Sierra Front Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) assumed command of the fire at 6a.m. this morning, and additional resources have been ordered. Access is demanding and dangerous for crews fighting this fire due to difficult nature of the terrain, numerous mineshafts in the area, washed out roads, along with fuel moistures that have hit critical levels and erratic weather. Scattered thunderstorms are forecast to continue today with gusty, unpredictable winds and frequent lightning.

Evacuations remain in effect for the areas at the east end of Pine Nut Road including Fred’s Street, Sandoval, Taildragger, Bluebird, and Bar-J Roads as well as the Spirit Ranch area, including Blue Sage Road, Badger Lane, Robinson Road and Lena Lane. In addition, the Washoe Tribal Police evacuated the Bodie Flats area in the vicinity of Courtland Avenue.

An evacuation center is set up at the Douglas County Community Center, 1329 Waterloo Lane, in Gardnerville (783-6455). Large animals can be taken to the Douglas County Fairgrounds on Pinenut Road in Gardnerville (782-9840). Smaller animals (cats/dogs) can be taken to the Community Center where a trailer will be set up to kennel smaller animals.

July 24, 2017 at 9:12 PM

The Preacher Fire is located in Douglas County, in the Pine Nut Mountains, about 4 miles southeast of the Lahontan Fish Hatchery in Douglas County, NV east of Highway 395. Lightning started the fire around 3:30 a.m. Monday morning. This afternoon aviation and ground forces attacked the fire while also suppressing multiple other new lightning caused starts across the Sierra Front. However, just before 6:00 p.m. high winds pushed the fire past retardant lines at the heel of the fire and at this time the fire is heading towards Buffalo Canyon.

Douglas County has initiated evacuations of areas at the east end of Pine Nut Road including Fred’s Street, Sandoval, Taildragger, Bluebird, and Bar-J Roads as well as the Spirit Ranch area, including Blue Sage Road, Badger Lane, Robinson Road and Lena Lane. In addition, the Washoe Tribal Police are evacuating the Bodie Flats area in the vicinity of Courtland Avenue. An evacuation center is set up at the Douglas County Community Center, 1329 Waterloo Lane, in Gardnerville (783-6455). Large animals can be taken to the Douglas County Fairgrounds on Pinenut Road in Gardnerville (782-9840). Smaller animals (cats/dogs) can be taken to the Community Center where a trailer will be set up to kennel these these smaller animals.

The Sierra Front Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) has been ordered to take command of the fire late this evening. In addition, a Type 2 IMT has also been ordered to take command from the Type 3 team tomorrow afternoon. A Type 3 IMT is local, smaller and able to respond in a short period of time, allowing the Type 2 IMT time to respond to the area.

Scattered thunderstorms will continue through Tuesday, with increasing moisture and chances of wetting rain. The main threat from these storms are gusty, erratic winds, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall.