Rush hour traffic backed up for miles

Firefighters battled high winds and 95-degree temperatures Tuesday afternoon as the Power Dam fire south of Gardnerville grew to 80 acres in less than two hours.

"The fire is moving at 15-20 mph in an easterly direction on the west side of the highway," said sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Tom Mezzetta.

"They're getting some weird winds. A little while ago, it looked like they had it knocked down, but then it flared up again," he said.

Officials closed Highway 395 between Riverview and China Spring Road and rush hour traffic was backed up for miles by 5 p.m.

"The traffic is just a nightmare, especially this time of night," Mezzetta said. "Visibility is nonexistent due to the smoke."

Residents of nearby China Spring Youth Camp and Aurora Pines for juvenile offenders were safe from the fire which was about six miles south of Gardnerville, Mezzetta said.

"There are no structures in immediate danger," he said. "China Spring officials called at the onset, but we told them to stand by."

He said firefighters responded from the Valley's volunteer and career departments as well as Citizen Patrol and Search and Rescue volunteers.

Ten Douglas County Sheriff's deputies were on scene.

In addition, 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," he said.

Mezzetta said the Red Cross was standing by if evacuation became necessary.