Firefighters gain upper hand on Douglas County wildfire

Firefighters gained the upper hand on a wildland fire that has blackened more than 1,000 acres near Gardnerville.

Fire officials said the blaze near the China Spring Youth Camp 10 miles southeast of Gardnerville was 80 percent contained Wednesday morning.

The fire on Bureau of Indian Affairs lands should be fully contained by Wednesday evening and extinguished by Thursday morning, they said.

There were no reports of injuries or damage to homes.

At one point, the fire threatened as many as 10 homes and forced an evacuation at the camp.

The fire eventually burned to within one mile of U.S. Highway 395, but did not require a highway closure. Fire officials say conditions are drier than they were this time last year.

Officials think the fire was caused by someone using a chainsaw. Its cause remains under investigation. Officials say the fire did not result from any prescribed burn. The fire burned sagebrush, pinyon pines and junipers.

Firefighters also are battling a 5,000-acre wildland fire in Idaho just north of the Elko County town of Jarbidge.

Fire officials said the blaze was likely human-caused and is burning in a steep canyon on Bureau of Land Management lands.

Firefighters hope to contain the blaze later Wednesday.

Firefighters responded to as many as 20 wildland fires Sunday in the Reno area, most caused by lightning strikes.

The largest blaze blackened 250 acres in the Pah Rah Mountains east of Sparks. The fire was man-caused but its exact cause has not been determined.

The National Weather Service is calling for a chance of thunderstorms in the region every day through Saturday.

Agencies represented include the BLM the BIA, the U.S. Forest Service, East Fork Fire Protection District, Carson City Fire and Douglas County Sheriff's Department.