Sierra Nevada forest fire slows
Copyright 2001, Associated Press
June 21, 2001
RENO, Nev. — A fire raging through the Sierra and into western Nevada slowed Wednesday as winds decreased, humidity increased and thousands of firefighters battled the blaze.
The fire, whipped by winds to 35 mph, grew at a rate of 2,000 acres an hour Sunday afternoon. On Wednesday, it was estimated at 13,500 acres — down sharply from earlier estimates of 20,000 acres - and was about a third contained.
"This was an extremely aggressive fire. Mother Nature was just playing all the right cards," said Tina Rose, fire information officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Because it's early in the season and there are no other major fires burning in the West, thousands of firefighters were able to respond.
Some 3,100 firefighters were assisted by 12 air tankers, 16 helicopters, 56 bulldozers and 242 engines. The cost of fighting the fire is estimated at $2.85 million so far.
The fire started Sunday east of Truckee, Calif., and spread generally eastward along Interstate 80 toward Reno, seven miles away. By Tuesday, about two-thirds of the burn area was in Nevada, edging toward Mount Rose south of Reno.
A mobile home, travel trailer and three vehicles were destroyed in the nearby Hirschdale area, and 42 homes in Floriston, Calif., about 10 miles east of Truckee, were ordered evacuated.