Lightning caused fire north of Reno burns over 36,000 acres

The cause of all the smoke in the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Virginia Mountains Complex Fire, has now consumed 36,091 acres of trees and sagebrush north of Reno.

Five separate wildland fires make up the group, including the Anderson (8,511 acres), Sage (4,238 acres), Seven Lakes (3,063 acres), and Tule (20,279 acres) Fires. All five fires were caused by lightning on July 28 and are burning within about 20 miles of each other in an arc about 35 miles north of Reno.

Firefighters were able to gain ground on the fires, now having 35 percent of the fire contained.

Evacuations are currently in place for residents in Cottonwood Creek and Fish Springs as a result of the Anderson Fire. Additionally, tribal police have a mandatory evacuation for residents in the Big Canyon area, north of Sutcliffe where the Tule Fire has grown. Both fires were pushed rapidly through the tall, dry grasses this afternoon when strong winds hit the fire area. Gusts of up to 30-miles-per-hour were recorded over the fire area, with ridges receiving gusts of up to 40-miles-per-hour.

The two Super-Scooper fire fighting aircraft currently stationed at the Lake Tahoe Airport are assisting in operations. They are particularly effective on the Tule Fire because of the short turnaround to Pyramid Lake for refills.