UPDATE: Red Canyon fire 90 percent 'surrounded'

UPDATE, Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.

With 25 mph wind gusts recorded in Smith Valley, firefighters battling the Red Canyon blaze are racing to get it contained.

They’ve made good progress on the fire discovered on Tuesday with hose line or retardant around 90 percent of the fire burning on the east slope of the Pine Nuts above Upper Colony Road.

“Lyon County Emergency Management continues to work with the Bureau of Land Management, Smith Valley Fire Protection District and East Fork Fire Protection District to contain the Red Canyon fire that broke out yesterday evening in the Pine Nut mountains near Smith Valley,” officials said on Wednesday afternoon.

The fire has been revised down to 4 acres from 12

BLM is leading fire suppression efforts by coordinating both aerial and hand crew resources, including two helicopters, four fixed wing airplanes, and eight engines.

 “Anticipating high winds in the forecast this afternoon, BLM and Lyon County have worked with residents in the area to prepare for any potential breaks in fire lines,” officials said.

INITIAL STORY

A fire burning in Red Canyon on the Douglas-Lyon county line has grown to 12 acres, according to Nevadafireinfo.org

First reported around 5 p.m. Tuesday, the fire is burning on the steep side of Oreana Peak.

An East Fork brush truck was dispatched to the scene on Wednesday morning.

Tuesday evening, the Smith Valley Fire Protection District, Nevada Division of Forestry, Bureau of Land Management and support agencies responded the fire. The fire is estimated to be approximately 10-plus acres, as of 9:30 p.m.

“Due to the rocky and steep terrain, fire crews are monitoring the spread overnight and have staged resources to begin structure protection efforts in the morning,” a press release said.

As the fire is currently located in Douglas County, this is a multi-jurisdictional response. BLM, NDF, SVFPD, and Lyon County Emergency Management are coordinating with Douglas County Emergency Management and East Fork Fire Protection District.

Lyon County is urging residents and travelers to avoid the area of Sharon Way and Grant Drive in Smith Valley to allow for emergency vehicle access.

While there is not an immediate threat to structures at this time, residents near Red Canyon should remain vigilant and be prepared for potential evacuations by having a family emergency plan in place and gathering essentials such as necessary medications, pets food and important documents. Lyon County will continue to provide updates, in coordination with BLM and Douglas County, on the county website www.lyon-county.org and to the Lyon County Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LyonCountyNV.