Authorities determine petrilla fire was man-made

RENO, Nevada (KOLO) – JULY 6: Authorities have determined the cause of the Petrilla fire that burned nearly 530 acres south of Reno.

According to the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, the blaze was man-made and accidental.

The fire started on June 16 and was fully contained on June 19.

UPDATE SATURDAY 4:05 PM: The Petrilla fire that burned in the Steamboat area south of Reno is now fully contained, the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District reported on Sunday afternoon.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. It is estimated at 529 acres.

Dust devils can raise dust that looks like smoke, but it’s only dust, the TMFPD said. They asked people not to call 911.

UPDATE FRIDAY 11 AM: The Petrilla fire is now 75 percent under control and full containment is expected on Saturday evening, fire officials said.

The smoke is still visible and the community is asked not to call 911.

UPDATE THURSDAY 4:30 PM: The Petrilla fire is 60% contained, the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District said late Thursday afternoon.

The TMFPD and the Reno Fire Department held the lines of fire despite the gusts of wind.

UPDATE THURSDAY 11:35 AM: Updated mapping of the Petrilla fire shows it burned 528.9 acres in the Steamboat Valley area.

It remains 40 percent contained.

The teams will remain on site to clean up the hot spots. The cause has not yet been determined.

UPDATE THURSDAY at 7:45 a.m .: The Petrilla fire is now 40% under control. There was no growth overnight. The teams are working to improve the lines around the fire. Firefighters will be on site over the next few days to clean up.

UPDATE 22:10: The Petrilla fire is 35% under control and most crews and equipment have been released, the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District said.

The crews continue to clean up overnight.

The TMFPD is asking drivers to exercise caution Thursday morning on Wedge Parkway, Mount Rose Highway and US 395 Alternate in Pleasant Valley as fire vehicles continue to move through the area.

No house was set on fire.

The cause of the fire has not been announced.

UPDATE AT 7:25 PM: All roads have reopened, the Nevada Department of Transportation reported.

UPDATE AT 7:05 PM: All evacuations have been lifted.

UPDATE 18:25: All evacuation recommendations have been lifted, with the exception of Rhodes Road and Andrew Lane.

UPDATE 6:20 PM: The Reno Fire Department reports that Interstate 580 has reopened. The Monte Rosa highway has been opened to westbound traffic.

He expects US 395 to reopen soon.

UPDATE AT 5:40 PM: Fire crews have stopped the Petrilla blaze from spreading, the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District reported.

Teams will work through the night tightening the line of fire and cleaning up.

People are urged to avoid the area. Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District gave these road updates:

Northbound Interstate 580 opened on the Mount Rose Highway. Southbound Interstate 580 and Old US 395 are open to local traffic only.

The Eastbound Mount Rose Freeway between Interstate 580 and Wedge Parkway remains closed due to fire equipment, but westbound is now open.

UPDATE AT 4:30 PM: The Reno Fire Department said the following neighborhoods should prepare to evacuate: Bailey Canyon, Callahan Ranch, Rolling Hills.

Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District estimates containment to be 10 to 15 percent.

Crews are protecting a geothermal power plant in southern Reno and said continued progress is being made.

UPDATE 4:27 PM: The Petrilla fire is 300 to 350 acres. The air attack is progressing well on the blaze, but there is no containment yet, reports the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District.

UPDATE 4 p.m. The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District said no structures were damaged by the Petrilla fire south of Reno.

Adam Mayberry spoke to the community around 4 p.m. Wednesday to provide an update on the firefighting efforts.

He said the fire started near the Petrilla Construction warehouse in Pleasant Valley. It currently spans 300 acres and continues to move north with a moderate rate of spread. For now, there is no containment.

Multiple resources are on site, including fire crews from Reno and Sparks, as well as federal fire departments and the US Air Force.

Authorities have requested that Mt. Rose Highway be closed between Wedge Parkway and US 395 to allow first responders to access the fire.

Mayberry pleaded for community members to stay away from the fire area and said this was becoming a hindrance to firefighting efforts.

ORIGINAL STORY: Teams work to put out a brush fire off Cheyenne Drive in the Steamboat Valley.

The #PetrillaFire burned about 300 acres and Truckee Meadows Fire said it was burning away from homes towards I-580.

Interstate 580 is closed from Damonte Ranch Parkway at the Old US 395 exit toward Bowers Mansion. US 395 Alternate is closed in both directions near Cheyenne Drive.

Evacuations are in effect for people on Cheyenne Drive. The evacuation center is located at Damonte Ranch High School.

The fire is located on the hillside between US 395 Alternate and Interstate 580, KOLO 8 News Now’s Ed Pearce reported.

The fire produces large flames and it moves north towards Steamboat.

A Chinook helicopter picking up water and throwing it on the flames.

US 395 Alternate is closed between Rhodes Road and Andrew Lane as traffic is diverted into the area.

You are asked to avoid the area.

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