Officials: Power Dam fire 'human caused'

Fire officials said Tuesday the 80-acre Power Dam fire was 'man-caused.'

East Fork Fire Investigator Terry Taylor said the late afternoon fire was under investigation, but officials determined it was caused by humans.

He said he hoped to have the cause identified by Tuesday night.

Career firefighters from East Fork and the U.S. Forest Service, volunteers from Ruhenstroth, Gardnerville Ranchos, Fish Springs and Gardnerville responded to the blaze which broke out at 3:45 p.m. near the road to the old power dam six miles south of Gardnerville.

He said crews would remain on scene overnight to extinguish hot spots and make sure the fire didn't flare up.

"There is no more active flame front," Taylor said. "With the wind, crews will work by hand and stay on the fire."

Douglas County Sheriff's Office deputies and Nevada Highway Patrol troopers also responded to direct traffic which was backed up for miles.

Officials hoped to reopen Highway 395 by 7 p.m. Tuesday.

"There were no structures lost and no known injuries," said sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Tom Mezzetta. "One truck came close to going up in flames, but all we lost was some hose."

Officials closed the roadway for three hours because of low visibility due to smoke and to allow equipment on the scene.

Mezzetta said Highway 395 would remain closed between Riverview Drive and China Spring Road while firefighters moved equipment and debris off the highway.

Residents of nearby China Spring Youth Camp and Aurora Pines for juvenile offenders were safe from the fire.

Douglas County Animal Control was on standby to accept animals if necessary.

"People have called from as far away as Alpine County volunteering to take in animals," Mezzetta said.