First round of very strong winds expected Thursday night through Friday morning. Widespread gusts of 50-60 mph expected. pic.twitter.com/31BxTtgrkJ
— NWS Reno (@NWSReno) October 12, 2016
The National Weather Service has posted Red Flag Warnings or Fire Weather Watches for areas in California, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Colorado. For most of the locations the conditions will persist into Friday.
The Red Flag map was current as of 9:50 a.m. MDT on Thursday. Red Flag Warnings can change throughout the day as the National Weather Service offices around the country update and revise their forecasts and maps.
Someone should have checked this web site for red flag condition in the Lake Tahoe basin.
There was another prescribed burn that was completed early in the week in Little Valley which is west of Washoe Valley and Washoe Lake, and south of Mt. Rose. The 50 to 60 mph wind gusts were able to kick up some embers and there is now a fire estimated at 750 acres (0800 PDT) burning eastward into the foothills. Some evacuations, at least one building lost, and I580 is closed from Reno to Carson City, where I am, though passenger cars have East Lake Blvd to 395 as a slower, alternate route. Lots of resources available, but I’m guessing no air support until winds die down some.
Prescribed burns anywhere are risky, but not having them is just pushing the risk into potential for larger and more destructive burns.
UPDATE 1220 PDT:
kolotv.com:
“There have been 18 homes, 7 barns and 7 outbuildings burned so far. The fire is expected to burn and threaten homes for several days, according to firefighters.
Residents in Montreux and the Joy Lake area are told to keep an eye on this fire and be ready to evacuate if needed.
The fire is still under investigation, but officials say it started in the same area of a prescribed burn from last week.
Air crews won’t be able to assist until winds are less than 25 miles per hour.”