Davis Fire

Overview

UPDATED September 12: The Davis Fire is estimated to be approximately 5,824 acres and 37% percent contained. The fire started in the area of Davis Creek Regional Park, located in Washoe Valley south of Reno, Nevada, around 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 7, 2024. It is reported to be burning in heavy timber and brush, with medium to long range spotting. Gusty winds are forecasted throughout the week. Fourteen structures are currently known to be impacted, and damage assessments will continue in the impacted area of the Davis fire when it is safe to do so. Fire crews continue full suppression efforts, prioritizing the protection of life, property, and critical infrastructure. 

Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1, a Complex Incident Management Team, assumed management of the fire on Tuesday, September 10. Fire crews today will continue to focus on strengthening perimeters and protecting the community. With the anticipated extreme fire conditions and particularly dangerous red flag warning, firefighters will be engaging on the fire wherever they can and wherever they can while remaining vigilant for life safety. Please respect all evacuation orders so fire personnel are able to work in these challenging conditions.

Highlights: Through the strong work and dedicated efforts of ground crews daily and nightly, the fire experienced minimal growth yesterday. This progress was achieved despite challenging weather conditions, the remote and rugged terrain in the western area, and the complexities of the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) environment. Yesterday, aircraft operations were suspended after 9:00 AM as winds reached 75 MPH on the ridgetops, with gusts of up to 54 MPH in the valleys. Through diligent work of firefighters extinguishing hot spots near the perimeter and continuously patrolling unburned areas looking for any new spots the fire stayed within its footprint. The southern perimeter of the fire, from Highway 580 in Washoe Valley to the upper edge near Mount Rose, is largely secured with fire hose and handline. Dozer lines and hose lays have been strategically placed to protect all communities located south-southwest of Highway 431 near Galena Forest and Callahan. Water tenders and portable water tanks set up in place to make water usage readily available.

Fire Resources

  • Start Date: Sept 7, 2024
  • Cause: Under Investigation 
  • Size: 5,824
  • Percent Containment: 37%
  • Helicopters: 14
  • Heavy Equipment/Dozers: 10
  • Engines: 71 
  • Water Tenders: 4
  • Dozers: 3 
  • Crews: 9
  • Total Personnel: 631
  • Fuels: Timber

Fire Activity

Low to moderate fire behavior is expected today. Firefighters will continue mop-up operations, though isolated pockets of smoke will still be visible. Mop-uprefers to the process of extinguishing or eliminating any remaining hot spots, embers, or smoldering debris after the main fire. Mop-up activities include dousing burning material with water, breaking apart hot debris, turning over ashes, cutting down or clearing any trees or vegetation that may still be smoldering, and making sure the perimeter is secure. Crews will also be removing any hazard trees that have burned and are at risk of falling across any fire lines or roads.

Weather

Cooler temperatures and a substantial decrease in winds are forecast for the next few days. Temperature will be around 70 degrees. Relative humidity levels are expected to reach around 60% today, a significant increase from the 12% recorded yesterday. This dramatic shift will positively support containment efforts. 

Road Closures

 Old U.S. Highway 395 is open from Mt. Rose Highway to East Lake Boulevard but remains closed from East Lake Boulevard to Bowers Mansion Interchange. U.S. Route 431 (Mt Rose Highway is still closed. For updates on road closures, visit: https://www.nvroads.com/. 

Please use caution when traveling in the area as emergency vehicles and fire apparatus are entering and exiting roadways and power outages have impacted some traffic signals.

Power Outages

NV Energy reports 2,400 without power and 317 without gas. Today, NV Energy representatives are conducting damage assessments, repairs, and re-energizing areas with evacuations lifting.

To learn more about outage preparation visit:www.nvenergy.com/outages-and-emergencies/outage-preparation-tips. 

Evacuation Areas

We urge everyone to remain vigilant and stay clear of evacuation zones. Stay informed by relying on official fire information sources.For updates on evacuation statuses please visit: https://perimetermap.com

For more detail evacuation locations visit: InciWeb https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nvhtf-davis-fire. Evacuations levels are being evaluated to determine when and where it is safe to reduce them.

To sign up for code red alerts and warning visit https://www.washoecounty.gov/em/RegionalAlerts.php

Evacuation Centers

 Evacuation Perimeter Map:  https://www.perimetermap.com/ Map below with current Evacuation Zones.

  • RED Evacuation Zone please leave now
  • YELLOW Evacuation Warning Zone please prepare to leave if needed
  • Traffic conditions in South Reno are heavy, plan accordingly.

 Evacuation Location for Residents: 

  • Washoe County Senior Center to the Neil Road Recreation Center, located at 3925 Neil Rd., Reno

 Large Animal Evacuation Centers: 

  • The University of Nevada Equine Facility 1290 Valley Rd, Reno
  • Fuji Park 601 Old Clear Crk Rd, Carson City

Washoe County Animal Control is available recover pets and large animals in the evacuation area by calling 775-322-3647 #1 (8 a.m.-10 p.m.). Dispatch will need the address, description of animal, where it is located on the property, and number of animals.

  • Potable water for livestock or residential uses are available through these companies:
    H2O 4 U (775) 233-7949
    Sani-hut (775) 358-6720
    Site Services of Nevada (775) 444-1098
    United Site Services (800) 864-5387

Several area hotels are offering special rates for evacuees.

Please call ahead to confirm availability and rates:

  • The Row, Reno: $59, resort fees waived
  • Nugget Casino Resort, Sparks, $100, use code EVAC24
  • Best Western on Nugget Avenue, Sparks, $119, pets allowed

Nevada Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Disaster Coalition Disability Recovery Resource

The Access and Functional Needs (AFN) guide contains vital information, tips, and resources tailored for Nevada’s Disability Community affected by the Davis Wildfire. This toolkit identifies and addresses the unique needs of individuals with disabilities and others requiring access or functional support during disasters. The aim is to ensure that everyone is adequately prepared and supported in emergencies, providing critical resources to safeguard their well-being throughout the response and recovery phases.

Nevada Division of Insurance Resources for Citizens Affected by Davis Fire and Evacuations

Contact your insurance agent. In the event of an evacuation, safety is of the utmost importance. While the Division recommends keeping physical or digital access to policy information on hand for review, the top priority in the face of wildfire evacuation is ensuring your safety and adherence to evacuation protocols. Once safely evacuated, contact your insurance agent or carrier for information on your policy, including a review of loss of use and smoke coverage information.

Contact the Nevada Division of Insurance if you have any difficulty in contacting your agent or carrier or verifying your coverage. Citizens can contact the Division of Insurance directly through the following information:  

Carson City office:  
Phone: (775) 687-0700 | Fax: (775) 687-0787 
Consumer Compliance & Licensing Fax: (775) 687-0797 
1818 E. College Pkwy., Suite 103 Carson City, NV 89706   

Las Vegas office: 
Phone: (702) 486-4009 | Fax: (702) 486-4007 
3300 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 275 Las Vegas, NV 89102  

Call Toll-free: (888) 872-3234 
Email: insinfo@doi.nv.gov

Emergency Declarations

Unified Command and Cooperating Agencies

Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest are in unified command in the management of the fire. “Unified command” refers to a collaborative approach in incident management where multiple agencies coordinate and work together to respond to fires. Cooperating agencies include Reno Fire Department, Sparks Fire Department, Carson City Fire Department, Cal Fire, East Fork Fire Protection District, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, Bureau of Land Management, County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Division of Emergency Management / Homeland Security, Nevada State Police, NV Energy and Nevada Division of Transportation. 

Smoke remains visible in the area Check out the Fire and Smoke Map (airnow.gov) for more information on air quality. Check out https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/

More Information

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Incident Updates