Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue said the bull fire near Verdi grew fast on Friday, reaching an estimated 2,500 acres by 4:20 p.m. The fire led to an immediate evacuation order for the back country after earlier warnings for Verdi and areas along the southwest side of Peavine Mountain north of Verdi.
The fire was first reported around 11:00 a.m. in a remote area southwest of Peavine Peak. By 12:00 p.m., it had reached about 2 acres with a moderate rate of spread, then expanded to an estimated 80 to 100 acres by 12:30 p.m. and crossed 1,100 acres by 2:30 p.m.
Verdi and Peavine Mountain
Warnings for Verdi went out by 12:50 p.m., and the evacuation order for areas along the southwest side of Peavine Mountain north of Verdi followed by 2:30 p.m. Areas in Verdi remained under an evacuation warning at that point. Officials said the main objective was to keep the fire north of Verdi.
By 3:30 p.m., the evacuation zone had grown again and the back country was under an immediate evacuation order. Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue said the fire had no containment at that time, with more than 250 personnel, more than 50 fire resources, eight fixed-wing aircraft and five helicopters assigned to the incident. Resources from Cal Fire were on order.
Hawk Fire Burn scar
The fire was also pushing into the Hawk Fire Burn scar, and retardant lines had been installed on the south flank by 2:30 p.m. At 4:20 p.m., Watch Duty estimated the north side was the most active part of the fire.
The sequence shows why the first look at the fire did not hold. It started with no immediate threat to the closest structures at noon, then spread through the afternoon and forced wider evacuation actions for people in Verdi and the back country. The cause of the bull fire was not given in the available update, and the next practical step for people in the area is to follow changing evacuation zones and access orders as crews update the line.
Washoe County School District
The Washoe County School District dismissed classes early at Verdi Elementary School, and the fire interrupted school bus service at Billinghurst Middle School and McQueen High School. No injuries were reported in the 3:30 p.m. update.
