Nevada fire: Man-made cause seen in blaze near California border

A 6,600-acre Nevada wildfire burning near the California border was caused by people, fire officials announced Wednesday.

Though the exact cause of the Topaz Ranch Estates fire is under investigation, it was ignited by humans, said Rita Ayers, Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center’s fire information officer.

“It was a private residence burning that exceeded the regulatory standards,” Ayers said, suggesting that a bonfire may have been the trigger.

On Wednesday, a midday flyover showed that the blaze had more than doubled in size from the 3,000 acres reported earlier in the day.

A national team -- experts able to handle complex, multi-jurisdictional fires -- has been deployed to assist the 450 firefighters assigned to the blaze, Ayers said.

The wildfire started about 2 p.m. Tuesday and quickly spread through the rural Topaz Lake area, about 60 miles south of Reno. At least two homes and 17 structures, including barns and garages, had been destroyed as of late Wednesday afternoon, Ayers said.

Firefighters working in rough terrain had the fire 10% contained by late afternoon, she said.

“The [firefighters] are working in pretty rough conditions,” Ayers said. “It’s rugged and steep out there.”

Officials are expecting full containment by Saturday.

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