Investigators Announce Causes Of Recent Fire Was A Controlled Burn

Nevada investigators released a report Thursday saying a recent fire between Carson City and Reno that destroyed 23 homes was caused by the state.

The Little Valley Fire sparked on October 14 in the Washoe Valley. The blaze burned more than 2,000 acres before firefighters contained it last week. Nevada's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources determined the cause of the fire.

Investigators studied fire patterns, mapping and witness testimony to determine which direction the fire came from. Their report says the fire's origin was fifteen to twenty feet from the control line of a planned burn conducted by Nevada's Department of Forestry. The burn was part of an effort to thin the Whittell Forest 20 miles south of Reno.