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2024 Nevada wildfires

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2024 Nevada wildfires
A pyrocumulous cloud caused by the Pizona Fire that burned in the Inyo National Forest
Statistics[1]
Total fires858
Total area103,595 acres (41,923 ha)
Impacts
Structures destroyed14 structures, twenty-two outbuildings
Damage$15.5 million 2024 USD
Season
2025 →

The 2024 Nevada wildfire season was a series of wildfires that burned throughout the U.S. state of Nevada during 2024.

Predictions for the 2024 fire season made by the National Interagency Fire Center forecast above average wildfire potential in the northern portion of the state through September and average wildfire potential throughout most of the rest of Nevada.[2]

Background

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The typical fire season in Nevada lasts from May to October, the time when vegetation is the driest.[3] However, the timing varies every year based on a number of other factors, including if there is hot, dry weather, the amount of dry vegetation, and when there are more natural causes possible, such as lightning. The peak time of the season is also determined by these factors.[4]

Summary

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In prior years, there had been above-average snow packs (especially in Western Nevada), which had hindered fire activity in previous years. However, this led to the growth of cheat grass, which dies off right before the fire season. This gave the wildfires in 2024 fuel that can allowed them to spread very quickly and ignite easier.[5] Several months were abnormally warm and dry, particularly July to September. Drought was getting worse throughout these months, and July was the hottest month in Reno ever recorded. There was little precipitation throughout these months, as well.[6]

This season included the Davis Fire, which burned south of Reno near New Washoe City in Davis Creek Regional Park. Strong winds in aided the fire’s rapid growth, and erratic winds on September 11 resulted in a particularly dangerous situation to be issued. This was because there was a chance the fire could’ve made an extreme northwards spread and destroyed hundreds of structures.[7] The fire destroyed fourteen structures and twenty-two outbuildings and prompted evacuations for New Washoe City and Southwest Reno.[8]

List of wildfires

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The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date[a] Notes Ref
Pizona Mineral 2,160 June 26 July 5 Lighting-caused [10][11]
Yellow Peak Washoe 1,262 June 26 July 2 Lightning-caused. Burned about 25 miles (40 km) south of Adel, Oregon. [12][13]
Wilder Humboldt 17,275 July 7 July 14 Human-caused [14][15]
North Creek White Pine 1,100 July 7 July 14 Human-caused. Roughly 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Ely. [16][17]
Whisky Canyon Lander 1,246 July 22 July 25 Lightning-caused. Was about 13 miles (21 km) south of Battle Mountain. [18][19]
Stockade Canyon Washoe 18,168 July 24 August 13 Threatened historical structures. Ignited by lightning and burned roughly 19 miles (31 km) northwest of Gerlach. [20][21]
Able Flat Humboldt 997 July 24 July 25 [22]
Broom Canyon Nye, White Pine 8,217 July 29 2024 Started by lightning. Burned in inaccessible terrain on Currant Mountain about 9 miles (14 km) east of Duckwater. [23]
Hobson White Pine 1,080 August 18 August 23 Lightning-caused. Burned about 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Ely. [24][25]
Raglan Humboldt 1,787 August 20 September 2 Started from illegal burn. Shut down part of Interstate 80 and led to power outages in Winnemucca. [26][27]
Range 77 Nye 7,876 August 22 August 25 Undetermined cause. Burned near Beatty. [28][29]
Davis Washoe 5,824 September 7 September 25 14 structures impacted. Evacuations forced in New Washoe City and Southwest Reno. Started by an improperly extinguished campfire about 15 miles (24 km) south of Reno. [30][31]
Castle Ridge Elko 25,885 October 6 October 19 Human-caused. Just north of Midas on Bureau of Land Management lands. [32][33]
Map
Perimeters of 2024 Nevada wildfires (map data)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "State and Private Forestry Fact Sheet Nevada 2025" (PDF). usda.gov. United States Forest Service. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  2. ^ "Outlooks". National Interagency Fire Center.
  3. ^ "Wildland Fires". Clark County.gov. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  4. ^ "Drought and Fire in Nevada: Is fire risk higher during drought?". extension.unr.edu. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  5. ^ Solis, Jennifer. "Nevada faces heightened wildfire potential this summer, state forester says". Nevada Current. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  6. ^ "August 2024 Monthly Climate Report" (PDF). National Weather Service. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  7. ^ Drysdale, Bethany. "Davis Fire Recap, Timeline, and Resources". Washoe Life. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  8. ^ DeSilva, Kristen. "Davis Fire near Reno mostly contained, officials say". Nevada Public Radio. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  9. ^ "What containment and other wildfire related terms mean". Los Angeles: KCAL-TV. September 12, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  10. ^ "2024 Pizona". InciWeb. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  11. ^ "Pizona Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  12. ^ "Yellow Peak Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  13. ^ Timko, Steve (June 28, 2024). "Brush fire burning near Oregon border remains 1,335 acres". KOLO-TV. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  14. ^ "Wilder Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  15. ^ Timko, Steve (July 14, 2024). "Wilder Fire fully contained". KOLO-TV. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  16. ^ "North Creek Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  17. ^ "North Creek Fire Update". The Ely Times. July 8, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  18. ^ "Whisky Canyon Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  19. ^ Haas, Greg. "Wildfires popping up in Nevada, northwest Arizona". 8 News Now. CBS News. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  20. ^ "Stockade Canyon Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  21. ^ Haas, Greg. "Northwest Nevada wildfire grows to roughly 10,000 acres". 8 News Now. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  22. ^ "Able Flat Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  23. ^ "Broom Canyon Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  24. ^ "Hobson Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  25. ^ Sheridan, Kevin (August 20, 2024). "Containment on Hobson Fire reaches 80%". KOLO-TV. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  26. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  27. ^ "Man faces arson charge after allegedly starting Raglan Fire near Winnemucca". KTVN. August 21, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  28. ^ "Range 77 Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  29. ^ "RANGE 77 - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.patriotledger.com. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  30. ^ "Davis Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  31. ^ Nowicki, Katherine (May 9, 2025). "Officials: Destructive Davis Fire accidentally sparked by unextinguished campfire". KRNV-DT. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  32. ^ "Castle Ridge Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  33. ^ "Castle Ridge Fire in Elko County now 92% contained, burns over 20,000 acres". KRNV-DT. October 16, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
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