Several wildfires pushed by very strong winds break out in Northern California and Western Nevada

Near Reno, Nevada and in California, Walker, Doyle, and Vinton

November 18, 2020   |    3:28 p.m. PT

We have found better satellite data for the location of the Mountain View Fire at Walker California, which confirms that as of 8:35 p.m. PT November 17 it had spread from Highway 395 northwest across the state line into Nevada.

Map of Mountain View Fire
Map of Mountain View Fire, showing heat detected by satellites as late as 8:35 p.m. PT Nov. 17, 2020.

At 3:10 p.m. PT Wednesday the weather conditions at Walker were 42 degrees, 80 percent relative humidity, with wind out of the southeast at 2 mph — conditions not conducive to rapid spread of a vegetation fire.


November 18, 2020   |    12:39 p.m. PST

California fires, November 18-19, 2020
California fires, Nov. 18-19, 2020

A number of wildfires broke out in Northeastern California and Western Nevada Tuesday as a cold front raced through the area.

Low humidity and very strong winds gusting at 40 to 60 mph caused the fires to spread rapidly to the northeast or east.

We will update this article as more information becomes available.

Pinehaven Fire

The Pinehaven Fire on the southwest side of Reno, Nevada started at 1 p.m. Tuesday southwest of McCarran Blvd. in the Caughlin Ranch area and crossed the road spreading to Cashill and Skyline Boulevards. It was pushed until 3 p.m. by 20 to 35 mph winds gusting at 40 to 60 mph from the west-southwest while the relative humidity was in the 20s.

Over a tenth of an inch of precipitation was recorded at weather stations Tuesday afternoon.

The fire destroyed five homes and damaged 15 others before the spread was stopped at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The entire area affected was about 1,200 acres but the fire spotted, leaving some areas unburned.

Pinehaven Fire burns home Reno Nevada
The Pinehaven Fire burns a home in theh Caughlin Ranch area of Reno, NV. Photo by Truckee Meadow Fire Protection District.

Laura 2 Fire

While the Pinehaven Fire was burning into Reno, the Laura 2 Fire started in the community of Doyle, California 38 air miles to the northwest near U.S. 395. In an update at about 11 a.m. Wednesday the Bureau of Land Management said it had burned 2,000 acres in Lassen County. Rain has slowed the spread. Officials estimate 20 structures have burned.

Mountain View Fire

Mountain View Fire
Mountain View Fire at 10:36 a.m. PST November 18, 2020.

The Mountain View Fire near Walker, California has burned 20,879 acres and resulted in one fatality, according to the Mono County Sheriff’s Office and the BLM. It started in the vicinity of Walker and was pushed by winds out of the west-southwest at 30 to 50 mph gusting at 60 to 78.

There are reports that dozens of structures burned.

The fire has spread into Douglas County, Nevada near the Lyon County line. On the map below, it is not certain that the red dots in Nevada are part of the Mountain View Fire. If it is, clouds may have blocked the view from the satellite between the two areas where heat is shown. Or, between satellite overflights light vegetation burned and cooled, leaving not enough heat to be detected. Precipitation that began at 1 a.m. Wednesday slowed the spread.

Mountain View Fire map
Map of the Mountain View Fire showing heat detected by a satellite as late as 2:24 a.m. PST November 18, 2020 (the red dots). It is not certain that the red dots in Nevada are part of the Mountain View Fire. If it is, clouds may have blocked the view from the satellite between the two areas where heat is shown. Or, between satellite overflights light vegetation burned and cooled, leaving not enough heat to be detected.
Mountain View Fire
Mountain View Fire November 17, 2020. Photo by by Mono County Sheriff’s Office.
Mountain View Fire
Mountain View Fire at 3:05 p.m. PT November 17, 2020.

Gulch Fire

The Plumas National Forest announced that the Gulch Fire burned about 150 acres near Vinton, California before it was contained at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.