Another Active Day on the 25,733 Acre Bison Fire

Gardnerville, Nev. – Great Basin Management Type 2 Team 3, operating under Incident Commander Mike Whalen, reports fire fighters made progress today on the South, West, and North sides of the fire. The southeast edge of the fire continued to creep down the ridge toward Pipeline Canyon. A trigger point was reached which prompted the Lyon County Sheriff to start the voluntary evacuations for Pipeline Canyon. Sheriff’s Deputies are currently going door to door asking residence to leave Pipeline Canyon. For more information contact Lyon County Sheriff’s Dispatch at (775) 463-6600.

The fire is now 25-percent contained with a full containment estimated for July 14.

The fire ran through the Slater Mine area on Sunday burning several old structures.

A spike camp was set up in Smith Valley and about 200 fire fighters will be working out of this camp on the east side of the fire.

Several crews arrived today bringing the number of personnel assigned to the incident to 1065. More resources are arriving daily. There has been one firefighter injury (twisted knee) reported.

Additional heavy helicopters are assisting in the aerial firefighting efforts today, with winds posing less of a problem on certain areas of the fire than in past days.

Incident Commander Mike Whalen briefed Governor Brian Sandoval on the Bison Fire at the Incident Command Post yesterday. The Nevada Department of Emergency Management Director and their staff were also briefed at that time.

East Fork Fire Protection District Fire Chief Todd Carlini reports that the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners has declared a State of Emergency for the Bison Fire. This allows the County to request additional State resources and assistance, as well as federal assistance, should the Governor deem a State of Emergency for the State of Nevada.

The following road closures to non-residents are currently in place for:

* Pine Nut Road at the intersection of Out-R-Way

*East Valley Road at Grandview

*Sunrise Pass Road at Coyote Rock

*Brunswick Canyon Road

*Mexican Dam Road

*Sunrise Pass Road at Artesia Road

We continue to ask that, for your safety and the safety of the firefighters, the public stay away from the fire area.

As a reminder, please clear 30 feet around your residences, “reduce the fuel, reduce the risk.”

Fire information will continue to be updated at www.sierrafront.net, www.inciweb.org, and on the Sierra Front Wildfire Cooperators and Douglas County’s pages on Facebook. A fire information phone line is also being staffed from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at 775-782-1428