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.[1]

Season background

The typical fire season in Nevada lasts from May to October, the time when vegetation is the driest.[2] 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.[3]

Summary

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 an abundance 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.[4] 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.[5]

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 as there was a chance the fire could’ve made an extreme northwards spread and destroyed hundreds of structure.[6] The fire destroyed fourteen structures and twenty-two outbuildings and prompted evacuations for New Washoe City and Southwest Reno.[7]

List of wildfires

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 Notes Ref
Pizona Mineral 2,160 June 26 July 5 Lighting-caused [8][9]
Yellow Peak Washoe 1,262 June 26 July 2 [10]
Wilder Humboldt 17,275 July 7 July 14 [11]
North Creek White Pine 1,100 July 7 July 14 [12]
Twin Eureka 6,325 July 16 July 18
Whisky Canyon Lander 1,246 July 22 July 25 [13]
Stockade Canyon Washoe 18,168 July 24 August 13 [14]
Able Flat Humboldt 997 July 24 July 25 [15]
Broom Canyon Nye, White Pine 8,217 July 29 2024 Started by lightning. [16]
Hobson White Pine 1,080 August 18 August 23 [17]
Raglan Humboldt 1,787 August 20 September 2 [18]
Range 77 Nye 7,876 August 22 August 25 [19]
Davis Washoe 5,824 September 7 September 25 14 structures impacted. Evacuations forced in New Washoe City and Southwest Reno [20]
Castle Ridge Elko 25,885 October 6 October 19 [21]
Map
Perimeters of 2024 Nevada wildfires (map data)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Outlooks". National Interagency Fire Center.
  2. ^ "Wildland Fires". Clark County.gov. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  3. ^ "Drought and Fire in Nevada: Is fire risk higher during drought?". extension.unr.edu. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  4. ^ Solis, Jennifer. "Nevada faces heightened wildfire potential this summer, state forester says". Nevada Current. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  5. ^ "August 2024 Monthly Climate Report" (PDF). National Weather Service. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  6. ^ Drysdale, Bethany. "Davis Fire Recap, Timeline, and Resources". Washoe Life. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  7. ^ DeSilva, Kristen. "Davis Fire near Reno mostly contained, officials say". Nevada Public Radio. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  8. ^ "2024 Pizona". InciWeb. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  9. ^ "Pizona Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  10. ^ "Yellow Peak Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  11. ^ "Wilder Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  12. ^ "North Creek Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  13. ^ "Whisky Canyon Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  14. ^ "Stockade Canyon Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  15. ^ "Able Flat Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  16. ^ "Broom Canyon Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  17. ^ "Hobson Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  18. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  19. ^ "Range 77 Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  20. ^ "Davis Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  21. ^ "Castle Ridge Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Nevada_wildfires
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