Wind may clear out smoke today

A shift in the wind today may clear out the smoke, but also raises the possibility of thunderstorms.

The National Weather Service is predicting that winds will shift to the west and north today. The chance for thunderstorms will remain in the forecast through Monday.

Smoke from hundreds of fires burning in California caused unhealthful breathing conditions in the valleys of Western Nevada through Thursday.

An East Fork brush engine and its crew is in its third day fighting the California wildfires near Chico after being reassigned from the Eldorado Forest.

The Carson Valley fire fighters are out with a strike team from Tahoe-Douglas, North Lake Tahoe, Sierra Fire District, Carson City and Storey County, Carlini said.

East Fork Fire & Paramedic Districts Chief Tod Carlini said an earlier crew with a structure engine responded to the Shasta Trinity near Paradise earlier.

"This is the worst I've seen the smoke conditions," Carlini said.

So far fire season has been delayed in Western Nevada, but Carlini said that won't last long.

"We have some resource draw down in the area," he said. "We try to make some of the right decisions to keep enough stuff here in reserve."

A homeless man's camp fire in Clear Creek caused some concern for firefighters.

"We're geared up," Carlini said. "Unfortunately, it's just a matter of time, we're going to have that significant event again."