Lightning caused fires burning in Northern Nevada

Several fires are burning out of control in Northern Nevada — all presumably caused by lightning strikes on June 1.

The largest is the Preacher Mine Fire at 500 acres as of Friday night. This is where most resources are being used.

“There are several homes in this remote rural area, however no structures have burned. Resident notifications continue,” Douglas County sheriff’s Sgt. Jim Halsey said.

Smoke from fires in the valley side of Douglas Valley are visible from Edgewood Tahoe on June 1. Photo/LTN

Air crews were on the scene dumping water on the first fire reported in Douglas County on Friday afternoon. The Pineview Estates Fire has grown to approximately 50 acres, and is burning in a southerly direction. This is also being called the Ray May 2 fire because it is in the location where a fire burned earlier this year.

There is a brush fire near Pyramid Lake burning toward Marble Bluff Mountain. The River Bend Fire (20 acres) is burning in brush/river bottom.

Units have responded to the Ranch Fire (one-quarter acre) in the Rosachi Ranch area in the Sweetwater Range, north of Bridgeport and to the Bald Fire (3 acres) northeast of Holbrook Junction.

Smoke from the fires has been visible in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

While the winds were calm and no lightning was reported in the basin Friday afternoon, winds picked up over the hill as the day went on, which helped fan the flames.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report