Power Dam fire 'human caused,' officials say

Fire officials said Tuesday the 80-acre Power Dam fire south of Gardnerville 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.

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.

Fueled by 15-mph winds, the wildland blaze came close to jumping Highway 395 before it was knocked down.

Taylor said crews were to remain on scene Tuesday night 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 closed Highway 395 between Riverview Drive and China Spring Road for more than three hours because of low visibility due to smoke and to allow equipment on the scene.

"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."

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

Douglas County Animal Care & Services 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.