View Washoe Drive Fire (1/19/2012) in a larger map
UPDATE 510PM: Fire burns more than 3,000 acres with zero containment; 4,000 evacuated; no count on home and structure losses.
At 4:40 pm this afternoon, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, under his constitutional and statutory authority, made a state declaration of emergency which qualifies local governments for federal assistance associated with this event. The National Guard is on standby at the request of Sandoval and Washoe County. California has also provided fire assistance as part of a Governor to Governor agreement with Jerry Brown. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been and are being affected by this fire,” Sandoval said. “Declaring a state of emergency ensures that every resource from the local, state and federal level is available to assist. The Nevada Division of Forestry and the Department of Public Safety have also engaged with local responders.” Additionally, Nevada has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). As a result, Nevada is eligible for up to 75 percent funding assistance for eligible costs. The request was made by the Nevada Division of Forestry on behalf of Washoe County at the onset of the fire.
More below the fold.
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Highway 395 has been shut down through Washoe Valley this afternoon as a brush fire continues to rage out of control consuming several homes. The Washoe Drive Fire is north of Washoe Lake and into Pleasant Valley and is being fueled and driven by high winds. Neighborhoods threatened in the fire include Pagni Lane, Anes Lane, Washoe Drive, Carriage Drive and St. James Place, near St. James Village. The Callahan Ranch Road area is now being evacuated as of 4:30pm. Galena Country Estates.
Washoe County Manager Katy Simon has declared an official emergency for Washoe County as a wildfire burns in the northern Washoe Valley area. At 3 pm, in response to the severity of the fire, Simon declared the emergency, which allows the county to apply for reimbursement for costs related to the fire and request additional resources as appropriate. A press conference is being scheduled for 5pm at Galena High School.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports several structures have burned. Firefighters throughout the region have been called including from Lake Tahoe, Carson City and Reno. The fire, which was reported at about 12:45 this afternoon, reportedly jumped Highway 395.
Go here for the latest from Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center. According to spokeswoman Helen Frazier, more fire agencies are being called in because several structures remained threatened. The primary fire agency is Washoe County.
Gov. Brian Sandoval Tweeted the following: Due to the fire in Washoe Valley, I have authorized early release @ 4pm for state employees who travel through Washoe Valley
Congressman Mark Amodei's (NV-2) Reno and Washington, D.C. offices are in contact with the Governor's emergency operations team and are reaching out to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in response to the wildfire in Pleasant Valley and Washoe Valley. Amodei is in the process of returning to the area to assess the situation on the ground.
For official information regarding the fire, citizens should go to www.washoecounty.us and follow @washoesheriff and @washoecounty, and @cityofreno on Twitter for the latest official information.