53°F
weather icon Clear

Wildfire between Pahrump-Las Vegas grows

A wildfire burning on the western side of Mount Potosi had grown to at least 420 acres with 10 percent containment, the U.S. Forest Service said Saturday.

Forest Service spokeswoman Erica Hupp said fire crews are still sizing up the blaze, which is burning within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Spring Mountain National Recreation Area, about 35 miles southwest of Las Vegas.

Resources on the scene Saturday included eight smoke jumpers, one engine, one helicopter, three air tankers and a Type III Incident Management Team, officials reported.

The wildfire was one of two reported Thursday afternoon on Mount Potosi. U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service crews responded to the fires, the first of which was reported about 5:20 p.m. near the Kimball Scout Reservation, an 1,100-acre Boy Scout camp. That fire had been extinguished by Friday morning, Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Peter Kisfalvi said.

A larger fire burning on the Pahrump side of the mountain erupted about 6:50 p.m., according to the Forest Service.

Lightning strikes in the area might have started both blazes. The National Weather Service reported thunderstorms over the Spring Mountains late Thursday afternoon and evening.

More thunderstorm activity is expected Friday and Saturday, said weather service meteorologist Clay Morgan. “It looks like we’ll have very isolated thunderstorms, with dry lightning being the primary concern.”

The forecast calls for wetter weather with a greater chance for thunderstorms on Sunday, Morgan said. That could mean more lightning, but it also could mean rain that could blunt the fire danger somewhat, he said.

The fire is about 5 miles from the Kimball Scout Reservation and appears to be burning away from the facility, according to Brian Porter, director of support services for the Boy Scouts’ Las Vegas Area Council.

Even so, the Boy Scouts on Friday canceled a three-day camp for 10- and 11-year-olds that was slated to start Sunday and bring about 150 people to Kimball.

Mike Marchese, executive director of the council, said no evacuation order was in place, but the council postponed the event “out of an abundance of caution” — and to stay out of the way of fire crews. “We don’t take any chances,” he said.

The Nevada Highway Patrol tweeted Friday morning there were no road closures on state Route 160 between Pahrump and Las Vegas because of the fire.

Forest Service spokesman Ray Johnson said smoke jumpers, who are basically fire paratroopers, had been ordered to fight the blaze early Friday.

“These guys will jump out of an airplane, land near the fire, then they can hike to it,” he said.

In 2013, the Carpenter 1 fire began July 1 and burned for several weeks. It was one of the largest fires to occur in the Spring Mountains in decades and forced the evacuation of hundreds of mountain homes while burning more than 28,000 acres of land.

The Pahrump Valley Times staff contributed to this story.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Looking for some family fun for Easter? Hop over to Simkins Park

Anyone looking for a fun, family-friendly festivity to enjoy this holiday can hop on over to Simkins Park to join the Mills family as they celebrate Easter Sunday with worship music, free food and an enormous 14,000-egg hunt that is sure to bring a smile to hundreds of faces.

Campground fees to increase at Death Valley National Park

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — Visitors to Death Valley National Park can expect a slight increase in entrance fees for various campgrounds beginning on May 1.

Clerk staffer Cori Freidhof appointed interim leader

Nye County Clerk Mark Kampf’s time in office officially comes to a close on March 31 and deputy clerk Cori Freidhof has now been selected to assume that vacated seat. Freidhof will take over the office as of Monday, April 1 and fulfill the unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2027.

Gaming can have impact on us

When does gaming cross the line from recreational relaxation to problematic behavior? How do video games and gambling relate? What resources are available for those who find themselves struggling to control their relationship with video games and gambling?

County eyeing impact fee increases

The cost to develop in Pahrump could go up, with a public hearing on a proposal to raise local impact fees set for next month.

Here’s who filed as political candidates in Nye County

Locals have filed their political candidacy as of March 15 and this year two major offices in Nye County will be up for grabs in the general election. Nye County residents have to first narrow down their preferred party candidate on June 11 in the primary and then vote in November to support their preferred candidates.

Second Source donation for Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Nye County Sleep in Heavenly Peace is now better off thanks to a second donation from The Source dispensary’s Round Up program.

Beatty riled by sheriff’s substation closure

Lone staffer will be relocated to Pahrump to help with workload there; be onsite in Beatty just once a month.

Sales tax question headed to the ballot

Road conditions in the Pahrump Valley are a sore point for many drivers as well as a source of frustration for the crews dedicated to maintaining them but with only so many road dollars to go around, it can be hard to keep pace with the demand.