What began as a prescribed burn is now a full fledge wild fire that as already torched hundreds of acres and is not expected to be contained for another two weeks.
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Burning half way between Wendover and Ely, the North Schell Fire is 37-percent contained. Full containment is expected by July 4. A red flag warning will be in effect tomorrow for high winds.
The fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain on the east side of the Schell Mountain Range, 20 miles northeast of Ely, Nev. It is consuming white fir, mountain mahogany, pinion-pine, juniper, grass, understory and sagebrush.
State Route 893 is open to the public, but motorists are encouraged to remain out of the fire area. Kalamazoo Road remains closed until further notice.
Strong winds passed through the area again on Tuesday but did not influence the fire as strongly as in recent days. The majority of fire activity occurred on the southeast perimeter where the fire moved laterally along the mountain range. Late in the day the fire spread over the ridge from Muncy Creek into Kalamazoo Creek. Dozers created a firebreak at the lower edge of the pinyon-juniper stands to prevent the fire from spreading down into critical sage grouse habitat and mule deer winter range.
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As a result of high nighttime temperatures and poor humidity recovery, the fire has continued to burn actively well into the night. This week’s efforts will again focus on the southeast portion of the fire. Firefighters will construct fireline and also patrol previously lined sections of the fire perimeter. Helicopters will continue to drop water on the fire to support those working on the ground. Smoke may be visible in some remote interior regions of the fire during the coming weeks as pockets of unburned trees and brush are consumed.
The North Schell Fire began on June 9th as a U.S. Forest Service prescribed fire. Since it was declared a wildfire on Sunday, June 17th, the fire has been managed jointly by the Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest and Ely District BLM. Firefighter and public safety is the number priority on the North Schell Fire.
