Airport fire in Minden burns 20 acres

MINDEN -- Fire forced temporary closure of the Minden-Tahoe Airport on Wednesday afternoon until a small fire was contained.

The fire, which started at 1:48 p.m. on the east side of the airport, prevented private aircraft from taking off and landing.

Volunteers from Johnson Lane, Indian Hills, Gardnerville and Minden responded to the fire, which was picked up by winds.

East Fork Fire, Nevada Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service responded to the incident.

District Chief Tod Carlini said the force to combat the fire as eight fire engines, two helicopters, an aircraft, a bulldozer and a heli-attack crew.

"There were 40 people altogether," Carlini said.

Carlini also said the "preliminary cause" of the fire was caused by a weed trimmer.

"During mechanical vegetation treatment, a machine hits a rock, it creates a spark, which creates a fire," Carlini said.

Smoke and dust clouds mixed with recently dropped retardant were kicked up by the wind, engulfing the runways surrounding where the fire was centered after tractors moved into the scene to mop up what was left of the blaze.

Carlini left the scene at 3:51 p.m. and at that point the fire was under control.