A cloud of smoke from the fire near Truckee looms in the sky over the Nevada County Airport, where air tankers readied to help fight the blaze about 60 miles away Sunday. (Photo by John Hart)

Trains and cars were crossing the Sierra Nevada on Interstate 80 again Monday, and people in a tiny mountain community were back in their homes as some 2,000 firefighters battled the huge Martis forest fire.

Among those fighting the 17,000-acre fire are about 250 California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection personnel from Nevada, Placer and Yuba counties, CDF Capt. Mike Deme said Monday.

A five-engine strike team and 16 firefighters from five western Nevada County fire agencies were also dispatched to the fire Sunday, said Vern Canon, Nevada County Consolidated Fire District battalion chief.

David Ray, a Nevada County consolidated battalion chief, leads the strike team from western Nevada County.

The fire, whipped by winds of up to 35 mph, exploded to 12,000 acres in just a few hours Sunday afternoon and surpassed 17,000 acres by Monday afternoon. An earlier estimate of 20,000 acres was downgraded after an aerial reconnaissance.

"For a fire to grow that big overnight, it's kind of astronomical," Canon said.

The hamlet of Floriston, 30 miles southwest of Reno, was cleared out Sunday as flames moved to within 30 yards of some of its 42 homes. Residents were allowed to return Sunday night.

Father's Day travel between Reno and Truckee was halted as smoke forced the closure of Interstate 80 and flames damaged two train trestles on the transcontinental railroad line. Both were back in business early Monday.

Union Pacific Railroad spokesman Mike Furtney said the harm to the trestles was not as great as first thought. Trains were running on a single track between Truckee and Floriston while repairs were made to the more severely damaged bridge. Those were expected to be completed late Monday.

"We have to go at a somewhat slower speed to make sure everything's clear," he said. "There's a little delay; nothing significant."

Amtrak service also resumed about midnight, according to spokeswoman Vernae Graham. She said there were no major delays other than the Chicago-bound California Zephyr, which was held up more than six hours by the closure.

Morgan said motorists along the interstate were cautioned to watch for boulders loosened by the fire's heat.

The fire began about 10 miles east of Truckee and spread generally eastward along I-80 toward the Reno area. It burned to within seven miles of Reno Sunday night.

A mobile home, travel trailer and three vehicles were destroyed in the nearby Hirschdale area. Two firefighters suffered heat exhaustion.

Battalion Chief Tom Donnelly of the Reno Fire Department said the blaze astonished firefighters with its rapid growth. Normally, it would take a day or two for a wildfire to grow so large, he said, but the driest wildland conditions in more than half a century made conditions ripe for a fast-moving fire.

"That doesn't bode well for this summer," Donnelly said.

Unusually dry wildland conditions led fire officials to impose outdoor restrictions for the Sierra Nevada much earlier than normal.

With no other major fires developing in the area, hundreds of fire crews, aided by 10 air tankers and nine helicopters, descended on the flames. The fire was about 10 percent contained at midday Monday and softening winds slowed its growth.

Heavy smoke produced a fog-like haze in Reno, where health officials urged people to stay indoors. Smoke drifted 50 miles to the south through Carson City and Minden and 75 miles east to Fallon.

California Department of Forestry Battalion Commander Jim Hoffmier said firefighters were hampered by steep terrain. Sunday's strong winds made the air attack difficult by blowing retardant off target.

The fire is still under investigation. There was no lightning in the area Sunday.

Western Nevada County firefighters should remain at the Martis fire for a week before a new team is sent, Canon said, adding that Nevada County consolidated fire stations will continue to be fully staffed. Overtime will be paid, he said.

The western Nevada County fire agencies joining the effort to fight the Martis fire include Nevada County Consolidated, the 49er, Penn Valley and Peardale-Chicago Park fire protection districts, as well as the Rough and Ready Volunteer Fire Department.

The state will reimburse the local fire agencies for their efforts, Canon said.

"We're just lucky that we have all these resources," California Department of Forestry spokesman Len Morgan said.

Back to NCCFD in the Newspaper