Posted on: September 10, 2024, 09:25h.
Last updated on: September 10, 2024, 09:25h.
A wildfire south of Reno, Nev., forced up to an estimated 14K residents to evacuate their homes over the weekend. Some have found temporary shelter in nearby resort casinos.
Several properties were offering those impacted by the wildfire discounted rates. The Row in Reno was charging evacuees $59 a night. Resort fees were waived.
J Resort and Grand Sierra Resort also were offering discounts to evacuees. In addition, the Nugget Casino Resort, in Sparks, was charging $100 a night with the special code EVAC24.
Began in Davis Creek Park
Called the Davis Fire, the wildfire broke out at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Davis Creek Regional Park. Flames scorched a lot of the park and damaged park buildings.
Driven by continuing winds, it spread northeast in Washoe Valley. It now involves approximately 4,703 acres. None of it was contained as of Monday with some 600 firefighting personnel in the area.
At least 14 buildings were damaged from the wildfire. There was a “moderate” amount of smoke in the Reno-Sparks region, officials added.
The threat of fire led to the temporary closing of Sky Tavern Lodge and Mount Rose Ski Tahoe ski resorts.
Also, as of Monday, Mt. Rose Highway and Old U.S. Highway 395, between East Lake Boulevard and Bowers Mansion Interchange, were closed. Schools were shuttered, too.
NV Energy reported that some 17K customers in the region lost power. As of Monday night, that number was lowered to 3,100 customers, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Due to the wildfire, the air quality in northern Washoe Valley, south Reno, and Virginia City was listed as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” Children, the elderly, and those with chronic ailments are particularly at risk.
Washoe County and Red Cross of Nevada opened an evacuation center with food and shelter at Washoe County Senior Services, 1155 East 9th St., in Reno. Small animals can be taken to the shelter.
Larger animals and livestock can be taken to the UNR Equestrian Center, 1290 Valley Road in Reno. Silver Saddle Ranch in Carson City is accepting animals, too.
Authorities have yet to reveal the cause of the wildfire.
State, Federal Responses
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, R, issued a state of emergency in response to the fire.
I implore all residents to follow the directions of local authorities assisting in the evacuations. Our firefighters and emergency management teams are fully engaged and working tirelessly to mitigate this threat and prevent further losses,” Lombardo said in a statement.
“We are praying for the thousands of Americans under mandatory evacuation orders out West,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday in reference to wildfires in Nevada and elsewhere.
“We urge everyone … in the affected areas to remain vigilant and heed the warnings of local officials, especially those who have been ordered to evacuate.”
