The Poeville Fire was a

wildfire A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a ...

that burned on Peavine Mountain near

Reno Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada–California border. It is the county seat and most populous city of Washoe County, Nevada, Washoe County. Sitting in the High Eastern Sierra foothills, ...

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. The fire was reported on June 26, 2020. It burned and was contained on July 6, 2020. Eight structures were destroyed, including one home. The fire threatened businesses, roads and neighborhoods on the northwest side of Reno and resulted in the evacuation of over 400 people. Initially thought to have been started by a vehicle fire, the cause remains under investigation due to fire crews finding a second point of origin. The fire destroyed eleven structures and injured two civilians.

Events

June

The Poeville Fire was reported as burning on the east side of Peavine Mountain on the northwest side of

Reno, Nevada Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada–California border. It is the county seat and most populous city of Washoe County, Nevada, Washoe County. Sitting in the High Eastern Sierra foothills, ...

on June 26, 2020. The fire was started by a vehicle fire. The fire was quickly contained at . However, by the next day, the fire, helped by high winds, quickly grew. The fire moved towards Reno, approximately five miles north of the

University of Nevada, Reno The University of Nevada, Reno (Nevada, the University of Nevada, or UNR) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Reno, Nevada, United States. It is the state's flagship public university and prim ...

, burning close Virginia Avenue, threatening homes. Air support was brought in to fight the fire alongside hand crews. The fast movement of the fire led to mandatory evacuations being put in place for residences in Horizon Hills and Raleigh Heights, a mobile home park west of Golden Valley, all businesses north of Lemmon Drive and southwest of Highway 395, and various other roads in the area. An evacuation center was set up at 9th and Wells in Reno. Smoke from the fire began impacting air quality in Spanish Springs and Hungry Valley and representatives of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, who were helping to manage the fire, suggested that residents in those areas prepare in case they need to evacuate. Evacuations were soon expanded to Hoge Road south to Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. Power was turned off for 8,500 residents. At 5:13 PM, Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue announced that two drones had flown over the fire, causing all air support to be grounded for an hour. By the afternoon of June 28, the fire had grown to an estimated and was 10 percent contained. Eight structures were reported as destroyed. Evacuation orders were lifted except for Heindel Road and Meyers Avenue. The next morning, June 29, the acreage was reduced to and 30 percent contained. It was announced by the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District that a possible second point of origin was discovered for the fire. Therefore, a second investigation team was brought in from the Bureau of Land Management and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Additionally, two injuries were reported.

July

As of the morning of July 1, 2020, fire suppression efforts had begun. The Poeville Fire was contained by July 6, burning a total of .

Impact

The fire resulted in the evacuation of approximately 400 individuals and communities on the outskirt of

. The fire impacted recreational activities on Peavine Mountain, including hiking.

Evacuations

The fast growth of the Poeville Fire led to immediate mandatory evacuations of areas of northwestern Reno, totaling approximately 400 residents in Horizon Hills, Raleigh Heights, a mobile home park west of Golden Valley, buildings north of Lemmon Dr. and southwest of Highway 395 and numerous roads in the area. Later that day, more evacuations were put in place, specifically Hoge Road south to Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. Evacuation centers were offered at the Washoe County Senior Center and livestock were evacuated to Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center. Due to

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

, evacuees at the senior center were asked to stay in their cars and volunteers from the

American Red Cross The American National Red Cross is a Nonprofit organization, nonprofit Humanitarianism, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. Clara Barton founded ...

would visit each car with resources and information. In total, the evacuation center hosted 45 families and the Red Cross supported 102 individuals.

Infrastructure

Power was turned off for an estimated 8,500 residents starting on June 27. Eleven structures were destroyed, including one house.

Injuries

There were two injuries as a result of the Poeville Fire.

Air quality

Smoke from the Poeville Fire was visible and/or affected air quality in southern Washoe County (including Reno, Carson City, and Carson Valley), northern

Storey A storey (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English) or story (American English), is any level part of a building with a floor that could be used by people (for living, work, storage, recreation, etc.). Plurals for the wor ...

and

Lyon Lyon (Franco-Provençal: ''Liyon'') is a city in France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of the French Alps, southeast of Paris, north of Marseille, southwest of Geneva, Switzerland, north ...

counties, and Pershing County.

Investigation

Initially thought to have been started by a vehicle fire, the cause remains under investigation due to fire crews finding a second point of origin.

References

{{reflist Wildfires in Washoe County, Nevada 2020 Nevada wildfires Geography of Reno, Nevada