Judge allows Little Valley Fire lawsuits to proceed
By Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette-Journal
A District Court judge denied a motion by the state to dismiss legal action brought against it for the Little Valley Fire.
Washoe County District Court Judge Scott Freeman ruled this week to allow the lawsuits against the state of Nevada to proceed.
The Little Valley Fire was caused by a prescribed burn done by the Nevada Division of Forestry that went out of control in the early morning hours of Oct. 17, 2016. The burn was done on Whittell Forest land owned by UNR. By the time the fire was brought under control five days later, it had burned through 2,291 acres, destroying 23 homes and 17 outbuildings, which included some historic structures. A Reno Gazette-Journal analysis estimated that property damage from the fire could exceed $80 million.
