Smoke from the Conner Fire was visible Tuesday morning looking north toward Smith Valley from Topaz Ranch Estates. Photo special to The R-C by John Flaherty
A third structure was reported lost in the Conner Fire, according to Tuesday morning’s situation report issued by the National Interagency Coordination Center.
Fire spokesman Jacob Chadwick reported the structure was an outbuilding in the northwest section of the fire.
"In the same area, firefighters saved another outbuilding near where P16 Road meets the perimeter," he said on Tuesday morning.
To date, firefighting aircraft have delivered an estimated 214,000 gallons of water and 162,000 gallons of retardant to support operations across the incident, with more than 15,000 gallons of water dropped on Monday through precision bucket work to cool active areas and assist firefighters on the ground, officials said.
"In one high-risk area with deep-burning peat moss, firefighters applied over 20,000 gallons of water in tandem with excavators to dig out and extinguish lingering heat sources critical work to prevent future flare-ups," according to the 8:50 a.m. update.
"Today, firefighters continue mop-up and suppression repair, relocating the excavator along the line to reinforce and stabilize additional sections. Crews are also working to tie in lines with adjacent divisions and close remaining containment gaps to further secure the perimeter."
The fire grew by one acre to 17,714 and 387 firefighters have a line halfway around it, with full containment estimated by July 4. Four helicopters, 23 engines and nine hand crews continue to work on the blaze.
As of Tuesday morning, the fire cost $4.5 million to fight. The wildfire is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management.
At last report, the fire continues to smolder and creep along the perimeter, with some single tree torching.
“While these conditions are generally low intensity, they still require careful monitoring and mopping up to ensure the fire does not reignite or spread under changing weather conditions,” officials said.
The possibility of afternoon or evening thunderstorms bringing outflow winds and not much rain are a concern for firefighters today.
The fire started early Friday morning after a home caught fire in the Pine Nut Mountain neighborhood, spreading to a neighbor’s place and then into the wildland.
East Fork Fire Chief Alan Ernst said that the cause of the initial house fire remains under investigation.