Local fires impact families, schools and business

Fires in our area — the Bug Fire, the Fred Mountain Fire, and the Hunter Fire — are causing distress and inconvenience for residents of Northern Nevada and California.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered, affecting about 4,000 people and approximately 1,800 homes in the Bug Fire area, according to KOLO TV 8. This fire in Lassen County began on the afternoon of Saturday, August 8, east of Highway 395 and south of Bringman Road, and its cause remains under investigation, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire has burned 15,000 acres, and only 3 percent has been contained.

By the evening of August 9, the Fred Mountain Fire had already burned 1,393 acres in northern Washoe County near Red Rock Road, News 4 reported.

The Hunter Fire, has burned about 7.6 acres along Wilderness Road near the Hunter Creek Trail, and appears to have started on Saturday. By Monday morning, only 10 percent of the fire had been contained, KOLO TV 8 reported.

Due to the smoke and the local emergency, Stead Airport has closed to commercial aviation to allow firefighting and military aircraft to use the runways. Reno-Tahoe Airport continues to operate.

The Washoe School District has canceled the first day of school today, August 10, due to the Bug Fire at the following schools:

• Desert Heights Elementary School
• Silver Lake Elementary School
• Lemmon Valley Elementary School
• Shaw Middle School
• Spanish Springs High School
• Alyce Taylor Elementary School
• Jesse Hall Elementary School
• Spanish Springs Elementary School

All other schools in the district remain open.

Students at the University of Nevada, Reno who need help can call 775-682-6846 for assistance and they should consider accessing the counseling and health services on campus if necessary.

To help evacuated families, local hotels are offering special rates for people who had to evacuate their homes.

Peppermill Resort Spa Casino: Through Wednesday, August 12, guests can stay at the resort for between US$55 and US$95 per night. No resort tax will be charged. To make a reservation, call (866) 821-9996 and mention the code HEVAC. Proof of residence is required at check-in.

The J Resort: The hotel and casino is offering room rates of US$59, excluding resort taxes, for residents fleeing the Bug Fire. For more information, call 866-386-7829 and use the code NVfire2026.

Grand Sierra Resort is offering accommodations for US$59 per night, excluding resort fees. Evacuees and fire crews can visit GrandSierraResort.com/Evacuee or call 775-789-2000. Mention the code “EVACUEE” when booking. Pets are not allowed.

For those with limited resources, the Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center is open to accommodate evacuees. The Washoe County Red Cross is on site providing supplies for those in need, such as food, beverages, sheets, pillows, and cots.

Federal funds are already on their way to the state to assist with firefighting efforts. Mutual aid from Las Vegas firefighters will arrive in Reno on Monday afternoon.

Consider following the quality of air conditions visiting AirNow.gov.

Editor’s note: This article will be updated with more information and photos.