Prescribed burn sparked Northern Nevada wildfire

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

8 years ago

A firefighter hoses down the area on Mount Rose Highway and Edmonton Drive, Friday, Oct. 14, 2016 in Reno. (Mike Higdon/The Reno Gazette-Journal via AP)

Fire crews work on the Emerald Fire along Highway 89, Friday, Oct. 14, 2016 near Lake Tahoe, Nev. (Randall Benton/The Sacramento Bee via AP)

CalTrans road crews drive past a melted traffic cone at the Emerald Fire along Highway 89, Friday, Oct. 14, 2016 near Lake Tahoe, Nev. (Randall Benton/The Sacramento Bee via AP)

RENO — A Northern Nevada wildfire that destroyed 23 homes and 17 other structures was sparked by a prescribed burn, according to investigators.

The Nevada Department of Conservation & Natural Resources says an investigation found a prescribed burn held between Oct. 3 and Oct. 7 that was meant to thin the Whittell Forest caused the fire that burned more than 3.5 square miles, including the buildings in the Washoe Valley north of Carson City.

The so-called Little Valley fire has since been contained.

Investigators found the wildfire sparked on Oct. 14 just feet from the control line of the prescribed burn.

The state of Nevada has requested an “Escaped Prescribed Fire” Review as a result of the fire, which is protocol for when a controlled burn leaves its boundaries.