Range 2

Range Two, Elko County. Twenty miles southeast of Elko, NV. Timber, brush and short grass. Minimal fire behavior. Road, area and trail closures in effect.

October 3, 2018 at 9:38 AM

Due to the predicted rain, firefighters saw minimal fire activity and no growth on the Range 2 Fire yesterday. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), some parts of the fire received totals of one fourth inch to half of an inch of rain.

The NWS did issue a flash flood warning for the Lamoille area around 2 p.m. All fire personnel were removed from the fire area and aircraft grounded for safety reasons.

More rain is predicted today through Thursday and resources are starting to be released due to the cooler and wetter weather.

Fire personnel as well as two helicopters were also able to assist the local fire department in containing a small fire within Spring Creek, NV.

Fire officials continue to ask motorists to be vigilant of fire vehicles and equipment that are traveling down roadways. When encountering fire traffic please slow down, be patient, and drive safely.

The U.S. Forest Service is also asking the public for their safety to please not try to go into Lamoille Canyon. The canyon including all areas, roads and trails are closed until further notice. A video of the damage caused by the fire to Lamoille Canyon is available to view on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Facebook (@HumboldtToiyabeNF) or Twitter (@HumboldtToiyabe) sites and on InciWeb (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/photograph/6235/8/90059).

With rehab progressing and more rain in the forecast, the fire is winding down quickly. This will be this last official team update unless there are significant changes. Matt Petersen, Incident Commander for Nevada Type III Management Team Four, would like to thank the communities of Lamoille, Spring Creek, and Elko for their hospitality

October 1, 2018 at 7:48 AM

The wind-driven Range 2 Fire is estimated at 5,000 acres and 0 percent contained. It will be officially mapped tomorrow depending on the visibility of the fire footprint. The fire started near Spring Creek, Nevada, around 9 a.m. today on private land and moved onto the Mountain City-Ruby Mountains-Jarbidge Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

The Range 2 Fire burnt west to east along the edge of the Ruby Mountains. In the Lamoille Canyon area, the fire burned from the bottom of the canyon to the top. The extent of the damage to the area and U.S. Forest Service recreational sites is still unknown, but some structures have been lost. Lamoille Canyon remains closed to the public.

There were eight hikers and an Elko County Sherriff’s Office Deputy at the top of Lamoille Canyon that were not in danger, but could not exit until it was safe for them to be escorted out of the canyon.

Today, local, state, county, and federal agencies were fighting the fire with ground and air resources. Firefighters were seeing 100 foot flame lengths as the fire burned through grass, brush, pinyon and juniper. Cooler temperature and higher humanity overnight is expected to reduce the fire spread.

Structure protection is still in place for the homes along the base of the Ruby Mountains in the Lamoille community. Aircrafts were dropping retardant between the fire and private structures and a dozer line was constructed.

Billy Britt’s Nevada Type III Management Team Four will take over the fire at 6 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 1. The cause of the fire is under investigation.