Over a week since it started, Nevada's Carpenter 1 wildfire is still growing rapidly every day. Although firefighters have begun to make some progress in battling the blaze, they still face a very steep uphill battle.
According to the most recent update from InciWeb, the Carpenter 1 fire is located in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, approximately 22 miles west of Las Vegas. Since being ignited on Monday, July 1 by a lightning strike, it has grown exponentially, and has burned through 19,747 acres as of 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday. The fire is currently at 15 percent containment.
Over 800 fire personnel have been summoned from 10 different states to fight the fire, including eight hotshot crews, teams of up of 20 specially trained firefighters who undertake assignments in remote and difficult areas. Four of the hotshot crews come from California, including Bear Divide, Groveland, Mill Creek and Stanislaus; two homegrown Nevada hotshot crews come from Black Mountain and Ruby Mountain; and teams are also working with the Bonneville hotshots from Utah and the Roosevelt hotshots from Fort Collins, Colo.
A total of 19 firefighting crews are on the scene at Carpenter 1, battling the fire with: 44 fire engines, two dozers, 10 water tenders, three Type 1 helicopters, two Type 2 helicopters and three Type 3 helicopters. As of Tuesday, the cost of fighting the fire has risen to $4.84 million. The Miami Herald reports that the fire is identified as the top priority in the West.
Weather forecasts in the area indicate that firefighters may be in for a rough day Tuesday. Hot, dry conditions are expected, with relative humidity as low as 10 percent. Winds will be blowing at approximately 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Firefighters say they are prepared for erratic canyon winds Tuesday.
As the Great Basin Team 2 Interagency Incident Command Team continues to work for the safety of the firefighters and the public, they are happy to announce that no injures or structure losses have been reported thus far, though on the north side of Carpenter 1, the fire remains just 1/4 of a mile from the nearest structures.
Over 500 residents in the area have been evacuated from their homes in the communities of Kyle Canyon, Lee Canyon and Trout Canyon.
Fox 5 Vegas News reports that the Southern Nevada chapter of the American Red Cross has set up two shelters to house evacuees: one at Hafen Elementary School in Pahrump and another at James Bilbray Elementary School in Las Vegas. Since the wildfire started, 49 volunteers have provided 515 meals and shelter to people and pets.
According to Lloyd Ziel, public information officer for the local Red Cross chapter, the agency has already spent $300,000 helping victims of wildfires in the Las Vegas Valley. Response efforts to the Carpenter 1 fire are expected to raise that number significantly.
"The Red Cross of Southern Nevada continue to convene and reach out to community partners to respond to the Carpenter 1 fire, and is working with those organizations to begin a community recovery plan moving forward," Ziel said in a statement.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
