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Poeville Fire On Peavine

A wide shot of houses with dark smoke behind them.
Trevor Bexon
Poeville Fire on Peavine Peak in Reno, Nev., at 4:24 p.m. on June 27, 2020.

Editor’s Note: As of Thursday, July 2, KUNR has stopped actively updating this web post. For the most current information about the Poeville Fire, visit @TMPFD and @HumboldtToiyabe on Twitter.

 

6:48 p.m. | July 1, 2020

 

Poeville Fire Is 95% Contained
By The Associated Press

Fire officials say a wildfire on the edge of Reno that destroyed a home and forced hundreds of evacuations over the weekend is now 95% contained but they still haven't determined what started it. More than 100 personnel remain on scene focusing primarily on fire suppression repair. A federal team managing the incident plans to turn control of the fire back over to local jurisdictions on Thursday. Eight structures were destroyed, including one home, and two injuries were reported after the fire broke out Saturday on Peavine Mountain and threatened neighborhoods north of town. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

You can find updates on the Poeville Fire here. Also, black plumes reported near the burn area are, in fact, dust devils that started in the burn area and may be visible throughout the summer, according to officials with the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

5:44 p.m. | June 30, 2020

The Poeville Fire, which started burning on Peavine Peak on Saturday, is mapped at roughly 3,000 acres and is 70 percent contained, according to officials with the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

 

All evacuation orders have been lifted. KOLO-TV is reporting that a total of 11 structures have burned in the blaze, according to Humboldt-Toiyabe Incident Command. 

 

7:34 p.m. | June 29, 2020

The Poeville Fire remains at 3,000 acres and is 30% contained. 

Truckee Meadows Fire Chief Charles Moore described the ground on Sunday "Just like after your fireplace in the morning, you blow on it a little bit, [and] you can make that glow red pretty easily.” The concern is that embers could cause flare ups.

Fire crews continue to reinforce containment lines and are looking for hot spots. All evacuations have been lifted except for Heindel Road and Myers Avenue. Minimal to no smoke is expected.

6:41 p.m. | June 28, 2020

The Poeville Fire on the east side of Peavine Mountain is 30 percent contained and holding at 3,000 acres, according to the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District. They say the cause remains under investigation. 

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that most road closures have been lifted, except Heindel Road and Meyers Avenue.

2:55 p.m. | June 28, 2020

The Washoe County Sheriff’s office reported several road closures related to the Poeville Fire. North Virginia Street between Lemmon Valley and Stead is closed to northbound traffic. Residents who need to access their homes can via southbound Virginia Street from Stead. Residents will need to provide an address and have an ID.

Heindel Road and Meyers Avenue remain closed.

Washoe County reported that Verizon carriers might have problems dialing 3-1-1. If that occurs, people are instructed to call 775-328-2003.

There are currently no active flames, but conditions are still dangerous, and winds are expected to be worse Sunday night, according to Truckee Meadows Fire Chief Charles Moore.

"Just like after your fireplace in the morning, you blow on it a little bit, [and] you can make that glow red pretty easily. So that's really the issue here is the wind acting as a bellows, getting those hot coals hot again, and throwing embers out into the unburned areas. That's really our challenge today, is making sure that does not happen," Moore said.

Moore spoke at a midday press briefing and went on to say that the cause of the fire is still unknown. It was previously reported that a vehicle fire may have been the cause, but he explained the two fires are not connected.

The American Red Cross of Nevada reported that the organization provided lodging for 102 individuals Saturday night, and the evacuation center remains open at the Washoe County Senior Services Center on 9th Street in Reno.

There are no reported injuries related to the Poeville Fire at this time.


12:39 p.m. | June 28, 2020

The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District reported that all evacuations related to the Poeville Fire, which is burning north of Reno, have been lifted, except for those in the areas of Heindel Road and Meyers Avenue. Also, the agency said that improved mapping is showing that the fire has consumed roughly 3,000 acres. An earlier report from the agency had estimated the size of the fire at roughly 3,500 acres. 

Residents should remain vigilant and prepare to leave should flames flare up again due to high winds.


8:44 a.m. | June 28, 2020

The Poeville Fire burning on the east side of Peavine Mountain has grown to an estimated size of 3,500 acres, according to the latest update from the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District. Containment is at 10 percent.

TMFPD is reporting that 8 structures have been lost. They are a combination of residential structures and outbuildings. 

Evacuations remain in effect. You can find all of those listings here and the evacuation center remains open at 9th Street and Wells Avenue in Reno at the senior center (1155 East 9th Street). The Reno Livestock Events Center is taking in large animals. Roughly 400 people have been evacuated, according to an early, general estimate. 

The Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest is reporting that a red flag warning remains in effect for Sunday, June 28 due to high winds that are forecast throughout the day. The fire is burning in grass and brush, and high winds are creating containment issues for the firefighters. 250 personnel remain on scene.

11:36 p.m. | June 27, 2020

The public information officers for the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and the Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest have said the next update on the Poeville Fire will be provided after 7 a.m. on Sunday. Also, TMFPD has asked evacuees not to return to their homes overnight. Firefighting crews will remain on scene into the night.

 

9:28 p.m. | June 27, 2020

According to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, there are more evacuations that include all Horizon Hills residences, all businesses north of Lemmon Drive and southwest of 395, Heindel Road, Myers Ave and Lunsford Drive, Raleigh Heights, mobile home park west of Golden Valley, Beacon Drive, Crest Hill Road, and Ruby Mountain Road.

An InciWeb information page has been set up for the Poeville Fire here.

6:27 p.m. | June 27, 2020

Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue has reported the Poeville Fire has consumed 1,500 acres.

TMFPD has added evacuations in the area of Hoge Road, south to Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, west of Virginia Street. Washoe County Sheriff’s Deputies have also been making evacuation notices for Seneca, Kiowa, Blackfoot, Chippewa, Dakota, Haida Court, Sauk, Hopi Lane and Hopi Court, Mandan Way, and Peavine Peak Road.

6:17 p.m. | June 27, 2020

Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue is estimating that the Poeville Fire has burned roughly 650 acres. There are now 250 personnel from multiple agencies fighting this blaze.

NV Energy has turned off the power for a few thousand homes near the site of the Poeville Fire on the east side of Peavine. You can view the utility’s outage map here.

The Nevada Bureau of Land Management is urging drone pilots to not fly over the Poeville Fire, stating that even a tiny drone can cause a fatal accident if it collides with a firefighting aircraft. Firefighting aircrafts must land if a drone is spotted near a wildfire.

Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue tweeted that a drone delayed an aerial operation for the Poeville Fire.

There are several road closures due to the Poeville Fire. Emergency officials are asking people to avoid the roads nearby. The Las Brisas area is closed. North Virginia Street in both directions between Panther Valley and Stead. Seneca Drive is closed southbound. Heindle is open only for evacuations.


4:54 p.m. | June 27, 2020

Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue is currently responding to the Poeville Fire on Peavine Peak.

TMFPD reported several structures caught on fire on the northwest corner of Lemmon Drive and Virginia Street at 4:33 p.m. There are immediate evacuations for anyone who lives on Seneca Drive and multiple structures are threatened. 

Specifically, KRNV-TV is reporting that Washoe County sheriff deputies are making evacuation notices for Seneca, Kiowa, Blackfoot, Chippewa, Dakota, Haida Court, Sauk, Hopi Lane and Hopi Court, Mandan Way, Peavine Peak Road.

The fire has consumed roughly 250 acres, according to TMFPD spokesperson Adam Mayberry. There is no containment at this time.

An evacuation center has been activated at the senior center at 9th and Wells in Reno. Livestock can be taken to the Reno Livestock Events Center. Mayberry described the situation as chaotic and dangerous given the strong winds. Several agencies are battling the fire using air attacks with several aircrafts. Mayberry asked that people leave the area immediately, and avoid stopping nearby the area to look at the fire, so first responders can do their jobs.

The fire was started Friday night, and is reported to be caused by a vehicle fire and was contained at 1.4 acres, but gusty winds have caused the fire to flare up.The Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue tweeted that smoke is blowing into Spanish Springs and Hungary Valley.

There is also a Red Flag warning in Washoe County. Residents are encouraged to not participate in any activities that could start a fire.

For the most current information about the Poeville Fire, visit @TMPFD and @HumboldtToiyabe on Twitter.

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