Lightning sparks more small fires in Spring Mountains
After four lightning-caused fires dotted the Spring Mountains Wednesday, six additional fires were sparked by overnight storms at and near Lovell and Kyle Canyons, the U.S Forest Service said Thursday.
Thursday’s fires ranged from a tenth of an acre to about three acres in size, and some were still being fought on Thursday evening, said Ray Johnson, a fire prevention officer with the Forest Service.
The largest fire, dubbed the “Deer Fire,” near Kyle Canyon, required the use of a single engine air tanker and 12 “hotshot” firefighters who were flown in to fight the blaze, Johnson said. A tree was struck by lightning and rapidly ignited surrounding brush, causing a widespread blaze.
The Deer Fire will be monitored Thursday night through Friday morning, Johnson said.
At Lovell Canyon, another burning tree caused a blaze about a quarter-acre in size, Johnson said. The “Wilson Fire” was still being “staffed and contained” as of 6:50 p.m by Black Mountain Hotshots.
The remaining fires, estimated to be a tenth of an acre in size, were doused by Thursday evening, Johnson said. The four controlled fires included the “Williams” and “Mine” fires near Mt. Potosi, and “La Madre” and “Harris Fires” in Kyle Canyon.
A total of 20 “hotshot” crew firefighters battled the blazes Thursday, Johnson said. He said they are the department’s top firefighters.
Fires weren’t an issue in the 2013 Carpenter 1 Fire area, Johnson said, but three separate fires in Harris Springs were located within about 2 miles of the area.
All four fires Wednesday in the Spring Mountains, near Wheeler Pass, were extinguished, Johnson said. Those fires were sparked about 4 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Clark County Fire Department.
Johnson said the closest fire came to residential communities on Wednesday and Thursday was about 8 miles. In lower Harris Springs, a blaze near mile post 12 was doused, with the nearest community near mile post 20.
“None of these are close at all to any communities, and we do not feel any neighborhoods are in danger,” Johnson said.
Smoke from the fires was visible in the Las Vegas Valley late Thursday night.
Review-Journal writer Ricardo Torres contributed to this report.
Contact Chris Kudialis at ckudialis@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0283. Find him on Twitter: @kudialisrj.
