A wildland fire in the Desatoya Range about 60 miles east of Fallon jumped from 30 acres Wednesday morning to more than 2,000 acres Thursday.
According to the Bureau of Land Management, the fire is burning in “very dry” grass and brush in the Little Den area and is moving toward pinion-juniper trees.
Lisa Ross, public information specialist with the BLM’s Carson City District, said a Type 3 Incident Management Team from Great Basin (Salt Lake City) arrived at the base camp Thursday afternoon. The fire is located north of State Route 722 near the location of last year’s Cold Springs Fire, which started in late August.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife said the area is also habitat to sage grouse, chukar and deer.
Ross said engines from both the Carson District and Boise are on the scene as are two water tankers from the Fallon / Churchill Volunteer Fire Department.
Assistant Fire Chief Bill Lawry said a two-man crew is manning each 3,500-gallon tanker. Federal Fire Department at Naval Air Station Fallon sent a brush engine to assist.
Lawry had transported two new crews for the water tankers early Thursday morning.
Ross said more than 140 firefighters and support personnel are fighting the fire. She said a Helitack crew and a large air tanker and two SEATs (Single Engine Air Tankers) have been dropping water and/or fire retardant on the blaze.