Crews Battle Wildfire In The Mount Rose Wilderness Area Near Reno

UPDATE: The fire burning in the Mount Rose Wilderness Area near Reno has burned 760 acres, as of 5:25 p.m.

According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, the fire is 47 percent contained. 

8 A.M.In the Reno area, crews are being hampered by rugged terrain in their battle against a 100-acre wildfire in the north end of the Mount Rose Wilderness Area. 

Crews are fighting a large wildfire in the Mount Rose Wilderness Area near Reno Monday morning.

Capital Public Radio's Ky Plaskon covers the Sierra region. He says firefighters have faced challenges including steep terrain and winds. 

"The winds are also a really big challenge," says Plaskon. "Yesterday morning, they were pretty light and you can see a column of smoke rising out of the mountains. But as the day went on, we had 20 mile an hour wind and higher gusts and that really fanned the flames and it really took off, from what was estimated 15 to 20 acres in the morning to 50 acres by the afternoon to 100 acres this morning."

Ky Plaskon / Capital Public Radio

A spokeswoman for the Sierra Front Interagency says one helicopter crew is dropping water on the blaze while another helicopter crew is taking firefighters to the Carson Range roadless area around Hunter Creek.

Officials say no structures are threatened, but the fire is only 5 percent contained.

Some 150 firefighters have been sent to the blaze, which is burning timber on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. 

Mount Rose Wilderness Area is a very popular hiking spot and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

"There are no homes threatened, which is good, and nobody’s been hurt," says Plaskon. "They’re just going to keep an eye on it. It’s continuing to burn through areas, in some cases, have already burned, so that slowed the progress of the fire quite a bit.

Ky Plaskon / Capital Public Radio