2025 Nevada wildfires | |
---|---|
![]() Burn scar from the Winnemucca Mountain Fire | |
← 2024 |
There is an ongoing series of wildfires burning in the U.S. state of Nevada.
The typical "fire season" in Nevada lasts from May to October, the time when vegetation is the driest. [2] However, the timing varies every year based on a number of other factors, including if there is hot, dry weather, the amount of dry vegetation, and when there are more natural causes possible, such as lightning. The peak time of the season is also determined by these factors. [3]
In mid-June, the Nevada State Forester and Fire Warden had a "cautious" prediction for wildfire season. There were abnormally dry conditions for the month, mostly from less snowpack in lower elevations and a warm spring melting snowpack at higher elevations, and drought conditions set in early. Over half the state was already under drought, compared to just 1% last year. By June 4, there had already been about 150 wildfire reports that burned 600 acres (240 ha), already half of the average calls a year. A large crop of cheatgrass from 2024, an invasive and highly flammable weed, was never tamped down and a second crop is growing. This will cause a heightened risk for Western and Southern Nevada. Forecasts predict fire activity will slow in mid-July during monsoon season. [4]
On the evening of July 3, dry lightning cells that moved across Northern Nevada ignited several wildfires in the Winnemucca area, including the Bloody and Barber Fires, along with several smaller ones. All the fires grew rapidly amid favorable conditions. They prompted evacuations and threatened infrastructure in Pershing and Humboldt counties. [5]
In early August, lightning moved through Elko County, igniting several large wildfires. The fires (including the Snowstorm, Jakes, MP 22, and Adobe Mountain fires) have been fueled by dry conditions and rugged terrain. Every BLM district in Nevada and in Twin Falls and Boise, Idaho were sent to respond. Due to limited access to the wildfires, crews are utilizing air support and bulldozers when conditions permit. [6] [7] The Snowstorm and Jakes Fires merged into the collective Jakes Fire on August 4. [6]
The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.
Name | County | Acres | Start date | Containment date [a] | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Burnt Canyon | Lincoln | 1,068 | June 11 | June 19 | Lightning-caused. Burned about 65 miles (105 km) southeast of Ely. | [9] |
Winnemucca Mountain | Humboldt | 2,321 | June 15 | June 18 | Cause under investigation. Burned just northwest of Winnemucca. | [10] |
Conner | Douglas | 17,714 | June 23 | June 30 | Undetermined cause. Burned in the Pinenut Range about 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Gardnerville in the Monarch and Numbers Fire burn areas. Two residential structures and one outbuilding destroyed. | [11] [12] |
Mount Irish | Lincoln | 6,315 | June 30 | July 17 | Human-caused. Burned about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Alamo. | [13] |
Bloody | Humboldt | 1,856 | July 3 | July 4 | Lightning-caused. Burned just north of Winnemucca and threatening community infrastructure. | [14] [5] [15] |
Barber | Pershing | 17,583 | July 3 | July 11 | Lightning-caused. Burning south of Winnemucca and led to evacuations near Pershing/Humboldt county border and Imlay. | [16] [5] |
Sheep Creek Canyon | Eureka | 4,174 | July 4 | July 7 | Undetermined cause. Burned 33 miles (53 km) east of Battle Mountain. | [17] |
Bartlett | Humboldt | 6,169 | July 4 | July 10 | Lightning-caused. Burned near Denio. | [18] [19] [20] |
Hot Canyon | Elko | 12,794 | July 8 | July 22 | Lightning-caused. Burned 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Montello. | [21] |
Gothic | Nye | 35,161 | July 6 | August 21 | Lightning-caused. Burned 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Rachel. | [22] [23] [24] |
Cornucopia | Elko | 3,514 | July 15 | July 18 | Lightning-caused. Burned 16 miles (26 km) north of Tuscarora. | [25] [26] |
Gold | Washoe | 1,268 | July 20 | July 26 | Human-caused. Burned in Sparks outside of Golden Eagle Regional Park. Driven by wind and terrain. | [27] [28] [29] [30] |
Cat Canyon | Nye | 16,260 | July 20 | August 21 | Lightning-caused. Burned 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Beatty in Nevada Test and Training Range. | [31] [32] [33] |
Moonshine | Humboldt | 2,863 | July 29 | August 2 | Lightning-caused. Burned on BLM lands. | [34] [35] |
Snowstorm | Elko | 22,256 | August 1 | August 4 | Lightning-caused. Burned 11 miles (18 km) north of Midas and merged into the Jakes Fire. | [36] [6] |
Jakes | Elko | 82,217 | August 1 | August 16 | Lightning-caused. Burned 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of Midas and comprises the Snowstorm Fire. | [37] [6] [38] [39] |
MP 22 | Elko | 4,230 | August 1 | August 5 | Lightning-caused. Burned 6 miles (9.7 km) southwest of Midas. | [40] [6] |
Adobe Mountain | Elko | 10,668 | August 2 | August 11 | Lightning-caused. Burned 38 miles (61 km) north of Elko. | [41] [6] |
Rancho | Washoe | 1,483 | August 14 | August 20 | Human-caused. Burning north of Cold Springs and prompted evacuations. | [42] |
Cottonwood Peak | Elko | 132,604 | August 15 | Lightning-caused. Burning 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Tuscarora and officials asked residents in Independence Valley to prepare to evacuate. | [43] [44] | |
Big Butte | Elko | 3,612 | August 24 | August 26 | Unknown cause. Burned 35 miles (56 km) northeast of Battle Mountain. | [45] [46] |
R-14 Buffalo | Washoe | 1,276 | August 29 | Undetermined cause. Burning 18 miles (29 km) west of Gerlach. | [47] |