cowboyup must have a heck of a large family. He said he had relatives over here next to us in Carter County too.
Here is some more on it today. Sounds scary.
Fire approaches Elko: 70,000-acre blaze burns near Sundance subdivision
By MARIANNE KOBAK - Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 28, 2006 5:59 PM PDT
ELKO — The Suzie Fire has burned more than 70,000 acres and continues to grow toward Elko.
Gov. Kenny Guinn proclaimed a state of emergency for Nevada Tuesday. This declaration will provide the ability to obtain early access to federal assistance, assistance from other states and allows for access to the state’s Disaster Relief Fund.
About 600 fire-fighting personnel from Nevada and across the country are fighting wildfires in Elko County.
The Suzie Fire is about five miles northwest of Elko and is burning sagebrush and grass.
“It came to about a mile and a half from structures in the northwestern area of Elko, in what is called the Sundance Estates subdivision,” said June McMillen, fire information officer. “That was just a little run down a hill. We keep telling people, if the fire is in your neighborhood be thinking about what you’re going to need and what you’re going to do.”
The fire was headed in an easterly direction last night, McMillen said.
Elko Police Chief Mike Smith said his people have a plan set up for evacuations if the fire threatens Elko.
“We’re ready to go,” Smith said. “We would actually go door to door and direct them by route to the direction they should go.”
Smith said he talked to the Convention Center and the Red Lion Inn and Casino to be shelters if they are needed.
A bulldozer line was put in to strengthen the existing Elko North Greenbelt, which was established in 2004 to help protect the northwestern outskirts of Elko.
The fire also threatened a main power line providing electricity to Elko. Jay Elquist of Sierra Pacific said when the winds shifted last night the fire was pushed away from the line.
Smoke from the Suzie Fire caused Mountain City Highway to be shut down for about an hour Tuesday. Mountain City Highway and Interstate 80 remain open but smoke is still causing visibility problems at times.
McMillen said the Suzie Fire may be 10 to 12 percent contained.
The Suzie Fire is one of three large fires burning in northeastern Nevada.
Eighty firefighters arrived from Oregon and Idaho to help with the Sneekee and North Antelope fires Tuesday afternoon.
The Sneekee Fire started Monday afternoon and has burned an estimated 6,000 acres in the Red Springs Wilderness Study Area about 35 miles south of Elko.
Windy conditions late Tuesday afternoon pushed the North Antelope Fire to nearly 5,000 acres, about 28 miles north of Dunphy. The fire’s active front burned through cheatgrass and sage brush between North Antelope Creek Road and Mud Springs. Smoke jumpers were deployed late Tuesday and two crews will be fighting the fire today.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for today until 9 p.m. There is a possibility of scattered storms with moisture later today with an increasing chance of wetting rains on Thursday and Friday.
The Elburz Fire, about 10 miles northeast of Elko, is contained and being monitored by firefighting personnel. It has burned about 9,600 acres.
A fire state of emergency was declared in Elko County by the Elko County Commission and a 30-day ban on burn barrels was put into effect.
All local, state, and federal fire fighting agencies are urging the public’s cooperation and caution during this period of extreme fire danger.