James Fire between Genoa and Carson City burns 260 acres, at 30% containment

9:14 p.m. update: The James Loop Fire was reported at 12:45 p.m. at the James Canyon Development near Carson City, Nevada. Tonight, the fire was mapped at 260 acres and is currently 30 percent contained. The fire was caused by heavy equipment working on a new home under construction The fire burned 163 acres of private and 107 acres of Bureau of Indian Affairs lands, but threatened lands
managed by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The East Fork Fire Protection District was in unified command with the U.S. Forest Service.

The James Loop Fire burned in grass and brush and moved quickly when gusty afternoon winds pushed it. The fire jumped the Jack Valley Road, but fire crews were able to stop it from reaching the Jacks Valley Wildlife Management Area. Firefighters continue to construct a line around the fire.

The James Loop Fire also threatened 20 to 30 homes, but none were lost. Jack Valley Road is open, but only James Canyon residents are allowed back in the area effect by the fire.

“I can’t stress enough how important it is to have defensible space around homes,” said Steve Eisele, Deputy Fire Chief of the East Fork Fire Protection District. “This contributed to the successful outcome of no structures lost.”

Resources on the fire included 30 engines (mix of structural and wildland), eight hand crews, one dozer, two helicopters, two Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATS), a medium air tanker and a heavy air tanker. Cooperators included U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Cal Fire, Nevada Division of Forestry, Carson City Fire Department, Reno Fire Department, Sparks Fire Department, South Lake
Tahoe Fire Department, North Lake Tahoe Fire Departments, Eastern Alpine Fire Department, Antelope Valley Fire Department, Lyon County Fire Departments, Fallen Leaf Lake Fire Department, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue.

The Community and Senior Center will be closing at its normal time at 9:00 pm this evening.

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8:30 p.m. update: Voluntary evacuation orders have been lifted and evacuation centers are closed in Douglas County after the James fire burned through 280 acres of sagebrush according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center. A quick response by multiple agencies got the fire quickly under control. The forward progress ended at 5:00 p.m. and a line is being put around the fire.

Fire officials say it looks like the fire was started by heavy equipment at a construction site where a new home was being built. Jacks Valley Road is back open in the fire area.

At one time, 30 structures were threatened by the fire but none were damaged.

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4:00 p.m. update: East Fork Fire Protection District in unified command with US Forest Service continues to work on the 50 acre fire in northern Douglas County near James Canyon Loop. 30 structures initially threatened, 0 loss/damage. 100 personnel on 35 pieces of equipment, 2 helicopters, and an air tanker are at the scene according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Twitter page.

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2:00 p.m. update: The fire is off Jacks Valley Road near the James Canyon Loop near Geno. Jacks Valley Road is closed north of fire near Alpine View and south of fire near Genoa Lakes. Voluntary evacuations are in progress according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Multiple agencies are responding.

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A fire broke out near Jacks Valley Road at the south end of Carson City Monday just before 1:00 p.m. Monday, July 9, 2018.

Crews from East Fork Fire and Carson City Fire are responding.

At this time there is no other information. This is a developing story.