The fire that closed Interstate 80 east of Truckee starting at 3:30 Friday afternoon has been contained and the roadway was again open as of about 7:15 p.m.
The fire was located near the Farad exit on Interstate 80 approximately 15 miles east of Truckee. It was contained at an estimated 80 acres at around 6 p.m., according to Lance Noxon, division chief for the U.S. Forest Service's Truckee and Sierraville Ranger Districts. No injuries were reported and no homes were threatened by the fire, which burned heavy brush in steep terrain, Noxon said.
An estimated 130 firefighters, an air tanker, helicopter and smoke jumpers were also called to fight the fire, Noxon said. But the helicopter and the smoke jumpers " airborne firefighters who parachute into fires " were not used because of strong winds.
"The fuel load was pretty high" in the fire area, Noxon said, adding that warm, dry spring conditions have firefighters prepared for the worst. "We're not surprised because we monitor the conditions closely. The fuels out there are ready to burn."
