Gardnerville resident Maria Alva Correa took this photo while riding past the Davis Fire on the afternoon of Sept. 7, not long after it was first reported. The photo is republished from the Nevada Appeal.
More than a week after it was first reported, firefighters have a line around 85 percent of the Davis Fire in Washoe Valley.
The number of structures claimed by the fire was reduced to 32 in Monday morning’s situation report from the National Interagency Coordination Center.
The fire has held steady at 5,824 acres for the past three days, according to the report, with an estimated containment date of Oct. 30. The cost of fighting the blaze is at $12 million, as of Monday. There are 526 firefighters, including nine hand crews, 32 engines and four helicopters working the blaze.
Firefighters reported minimal fire behavior since Saturday morning.
“There is a potential for increased winds, which could result in fire behavior creating areas of smoke visible to the public,” according to a Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest social media post. “Fire crews remain aware of the potential for active fire behavior and are ready to respond to any new fire starts.”
On Friday, the Forest Service decreased the Davis Fire emergency area closure order. The north and west boundaries of the closure have been reduced to Thomas Creek Road and the eastside of the Mt. Rose Wilderness boundary on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Carson Ranger District.
“This closure was put in place for the safety of both the firefighters and the public,” said Carson District Ranger Matt Zumstein. “We know this is a very popular recreation area for people living in Reno, Nevada, and will reopen it as soon as it is safe to do so.”
The closure boundary runs along the Thomas Creek Road to the north, eastside of the Mt. Rose Wilderness and Forest boundaries to the west, Nevada State Route 877 (Franktown Road) to the south, and the Forest boundary to east (west of Interstate 580). All roads, trails, and developed recreation sites on National Forest System lands in this area are closed this includes a small portion of the Tahoe Rim Trail that comes in and out of Tahoe Meadows.
The fire was first reported 2:19 p.m. Sept. 7 and rapidly grew to 1,500 acres as winds drove the fire.
The National Weather Service raised the red flag for critical fire danger that afternoon and kept it flying on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Wet weather is forecast to arrive after 11 p.m. Sunday with a 7,500 foot snow level on Monday under mostly cloudy skies and a high temperature of 61 degrees.
