Wildfire northwest of valley still burning; new test site blaze ignited
A brush fire in the northwest valley grew to 45 acres and continued to burn Tuesday night.
Bureau of Land Management officials said the fire, dubbed “La Madre,” was showing signs of “light to moderate” activity.
The cause of the fire, which began three miles northwest of the Las Vegas Beltway and Summerlin Parkway, was unknown, officials said.
The blaze was not a threat to structures.
Meanwhile, another blaze began at the Nevada National Security Site, the former nuclear test site 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Last week, fires consumed more than 6,000 acres near the site. Officials at the test site monitored radiation levels to make sure the flames didn’t stir up remnants of decades-old detonations.
Kirsten Kellogg, a spokeswoman for the security site, said Tuesday’s fire was most likely sparked by a lightning strike last week that smoldered throughout the week.
The fire was located at the north-central portion of the site, commonly known as Area 19.
Kellogg said there was no infrastructure damage or contamination in the area. All employees were accounted for Tuesday night, she said.
The wildfire was being fought through the air with the assistance of the Bureau of Land Management.
Kellogg did not have an estimated size for the fire.
Review-Journal writer Antonio Planas contributed
to this report. Contact reporter Mike Blasky at
mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.
