- Home
- >>Local
- >>Local Nevada
Local Nevada
A wildfire that traveled up through the grasslands of Red Rock Canyon on Monday is expected to be contained by noon Wednesday, according to the Bureau of Land Management. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Shane Kelly, Bureau of Land Management Southern Nevada District fire prevention specialist, talks to the news media in the Cottonwood Valley parking area off State Route 160 about the Bird Springs Fire in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Tuesday, May 28, 2024. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Shane Kelly, Bureau of Land Management Southern Nevada District fire prevention specialist, talks to the news media in the Cottonwood Valley parking area off State Route 160 about the Bird Springs Fire in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Tuesday, May 28, 2024. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Dan Lonnquist of Las Vegas talks to a reporter in the Cottonwood Valley parking area off State Route 160 in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Tuesday, May 28, 2024. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Shane Kelly, Bureau of Land Management Southern Nevada District fire prevention specialist, talks to the news media in the Cottonwood Valley parking area off State Route 160 about the Bird Springs Fire in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Tuesday, May 28, 2024. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
More Stories
ByEstelle Atkinson/Las Vegas Review-Journal
May 28, 2024 - 4:53 pm
A wildfire that traveled up through the grasslands of Red Rock Canyon on Monday is expected to be contained by noon Wednesday, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
The BLM said that the Bird Springs fire was caused by target shooting, a common cause of fires that is illegal in Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area. A suspect has not yet been named, according to Shane Kelly, a fire mitigation and education specialist at the bureau.
The fire was first reported before noon on Memorial Day and is located near the Late Night trailhead along Route 160, west of Las Vegas. According to the BLM, there have been no injuries or damaged structures.
More than 80 percent of wildfires in the area are caused by human activity, according to Kelly, who called this number “pretty high.” He urged the public to “be cautious when you’re out in the public lands.”
An estimated 150 acres of land have been impacted by the fire, which reached 70 percent containment Tuesday afternoon. “There has been no new activity nor growth on the perimeter of the fire all day,” a BLM spokesperson said.
The region is part of the conservation area and home to the endangered desert tortoise. Emergency vehicles need prior permission before entering desert tortoise habitat. The breed is known to hibernate in burrows for most of the year but is highly active from March to June, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
While wildfires can damage important habitat, they can also limit the spread of invasive species, helping native plant growth. Daniel Lonnquist, an avid hiker who was visiting the canyon Tuesday to photograph flowers, recalled exploring the aftermath of a fire on Mount Charleston more than a decade ago.
“I got to see lots of beautiful flowers and new little plants popping up,” he said. But Kelly explained that this kind of growth “takes a long time to come to fruition.” When a wildfire hits an area with an invasive species problem, he said “sometimes it works out,” and “sometimes it doesn’t.”
Kelly warned that “it’s extra grassy this year” in Red Rock Canyon. Grass is a big source of fuel for wildfires, and with more grass growing, the BLM is expecting a busier season than last year.
Monday’s fire is coming “pretty much on schedule” for Southern Nevada’s fire season, which tends to be earlier than the rest of the state, Kelly added.
No closures were made, though Kelly said the fire likely impacted trails and their surrounding areas.
Tuesday’s windy weather also proved a concern. But it did not stop aircraft from dropping fire retardant on the area, some of which was visible as a red streak on a hilltop east of Mountain Springs.
Kelly said firefighters worked late into Monday night in hopes of containing the fire. But he added that taking a break is important. “Safety is a big priority,” he said. “That’s why they’re not working all night long.”
The terrain the firefighters are working in is rocky, he said. In order to do their job, crew members have to hike over the rocks. At least one vehicle was reported to have a flat tire, according to the BLM.
If the fire is contained on Wednesday, the BLM said firefighters will be able to fully control the burn within the next few days. “We’ll see how it goes,” Kelly said.
Contact Estelle Atkinson at eatkinson@reviewjournal.com.
MOST READ
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'READ MORE'; html += 'LIVE WELL'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'STORIES LIKE THIS'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('livewell').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-sponsored-full').length>0) { return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-2023-year-in-review')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '2023 YEAR IN REVIEW'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('2023-year-in-review').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-msg-sphere')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('tag-msg-sphere').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-jeff-german-murder') || $('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-remembering-jeff-german')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('jeff_german').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-911-anniversary')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'REMEMBERING 9/11: 20 YEARS LATER'; html += 'Looking back at the 2001 terror attacks and how they affected Las Vegas and the world.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('anniversary-911').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-class-of-2021')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'MEET THE UNFORGETTABLE CLASS'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '2021'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('class-2021').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-2022-election')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'ELECTION 2022'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'ELECTION RESULTS'; html += 'Click here'; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('election-2022').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-harry-reid-1939-2021')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Harry Reid(1939-2021)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Senate leader and Nevada political titan'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('harry-reid').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-henry-ruggs')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'HENRY RUGGSDEADLY CRASH'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'CLICK FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('henry-ruggs').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('category-homicides')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'HOMICIDE'; html += 'A STORY BEHIND EVERY NAME'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'TRACKER'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('homicides').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-sheldon-adelson')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Sheldon Adelson(1933-2021)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Las Vegas visionary and Philanthropist.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('sheldon-adelson').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-tony-hsieh')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Tony Hsieh(1973-2020)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Ex-Zappos and Downtown Project CEO left a lasting impression on Las Vegas.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('tony-hsieh').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-vegas-weekend')) { //vegas-reawakening html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'VEGAS REAWAKENING'; html += 'A year after the pandemic began, the first weekend of spring showed a perfect storm of promise for Las Vegas’ recovery and brought optimism that visitors would indeed return to the city'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('vegas-reawakening').html(html); return; } //add newsletters embed var default_category_to_show = ['News', 'Local', 'Life', 'Crime']; var newsletter_1st_lv = []; newsletter_1st_lv['default'] = {'id':'starting_point,pm_update', 'track_name':'StartingPoint', 'title':'LOCAL NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free daily Morning and Afternoon Update newsletters.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Sports'] = {'id':'sports', 'track_name':'Sports', 'title':'SPORTS NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free daily Sports Update newsletter.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Business'] = {'id':'business', 'track_name':'Business', 'title':'BUSINESS NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free Business Update newsletter.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Entertainment'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'entertainment', 'track_name':'Entertainment', 'title':'WANT THE LATEST ON LAS VEGAS ENTERTAINMENT?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for free entertainment email alerts'}; //newsletter_1st_lv['Nevada Preps'] = {'id':'nevada_preps', 'title':'HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Stay up to date with our free Nevada Preps newsletter.'}; //newsletter_1st_lv['Investigations'] = {'id':'rj_investigates', 'title':'INVESTIGATIVE NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free RJ Investigates newsletter.'}; var cat_has_subcat = ['News','Business','Entertainment','Sports', 'Opinion']; var newsletter_2nd_lv = []; newsletter_2nd_lv['Politics and Government'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'political', 'track_name':'Political', 'title':'LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL POLITICS COVERAGE', 'subtitle':'
Sign up for our free RJ politics email alerts.
'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['Politics and Government'] = {'id':'political', 'title':'ELECTION 2020: BE INFORMED', 'subtitle':'
FULL COVERAGE | ELECTION RESULTS
Sign up for our free RJ Politics newsletter.
'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['Debra J. Saunders'] = {'id':'44', 'title':'YOUR WEEKLY POLITICAL FIX', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free DC-LV newsletter with political stories from the swamp to the Strip.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['CES 2021'] = {'id':'ces', 'title':'CES 2021: STAY IN THE KNOW', 'subtitle':'
The Review-Journal is a media partner with the CTA. Click here for full coverage and live video from CES 2021
Sign up for our free newsletter below.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['TV'] = {'id':'tv_briefing', 'title':'GET YOUR TV LISTINGS', 'subtitle':'Your Weekly TV Briefing.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['UNLV'] = {'id':'unlv_rebel_news', 'title':'UNLV SPORTS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Stay up to date on the Rebels with our free newsletter.'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Rodeo'] = {'id':'rodeo_nfr', 'track_name':'RodeoNFR', 'title':'RODEO NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Don\'t miss any of the action! Click here for full NFR coverage or Sign up for our free newsletter below'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Raiders News'] = {'id':'vegasnation', 'track_name':'VegasNation', 'title':'WANT EVEN MORE RAIDERS NEWS?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free Vegas Nation newsletter.'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Golden Knights'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'golden_knights', 'track_name':'GoldenKnights', 'title':'WANT MORE KNIGHTS IN YOUR DAY?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for free Golden Knights email alerts for all the latest updates'}; var main_cat = ''; var m_hierarchy = []; var m_cat = []; var m_hl_cat = ''; if (window.dataLayer[0].metrics) { main_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.section; //National Finals Rodeo m_hierarchy = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.hierarchy.split(' | '); //"Sports | Rodeo | National Finals Rodeo" m_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.categories; //["National Finals Rodeo","Rodeo","Sports"] m_hl_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics['hl-category']; //Sports } var i, k, found, newsletter; newsletter = false; found = false; if (default_category_to_show.includes(m_hl_cat)) { newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv['default']; } if (newsletter_1st_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hl_cat)) { newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv[m_hl_cat]; } // check main category if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(main_cat)) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[main_cat]; } if (!found) { // check in hierarchy (main category hierarchy) i = m_hierarchy.length; while (!found && i >= 0) { i--; if (i > 0) { if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hierarchy[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[m_hierarchy[i]]; } } else { // i=0, check first level if (newsletter_1st_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hierarchy[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv[m_hierarchy[i]]; } } } } if (!found) { // check in category i = m_cat.length; while (!found && i > 0 && cat_has_subcat.includes(m_hl_cat)) { i--; if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_cat[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[m_cat[i]]; } } } if (newsletter !== false && !$('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-hide-newsletter') && !$('.rj-story-full').hasClass(' rj-story-sponsored-full')) { var alert_id = ''; if (newsletter.alert_id) { alert_id = newsletter.alert_id; } html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'+newsletter.title+'
'; html += '
'+newsletter.subtitle+'
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy and '; html += 'Terms of Service. Unsubscribe at any time.'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.'; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').html(html); } //});})(jQuery);
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Nevada Red Cross volunteers helping with tornado relief in Texas, Arkansas
ByLas Vegas Review-Journal/RJ
Red Cross disaster relief teams from across the nation are mobilizing to support evacuees in states slammed by storms.
Longtime Nevada federal judge dies after struck by vehicle
ByEstelle Atkinson/RJ
Senior U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks died after he was hit by a vehicle near the district courthouse in downtown Reno, the Reno Police Department said. He was 80.
Red Rock Canyon fire contained after several days
ByEstelle Atkinson/RJ
A fire that has been burning through Red Rock Canyon has been fully contained, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
Nevada toad could go extinct due to gold mining, petition says
ByAlan Halaly/RJ
Environmentalists have filed an application with the federal government to list the Amargosa toad, found only in the Oasis Valley northwest of Las Vegas, as an endangered species.
MGM topples food donation goal, surpassing 5M meals
ByAlan Halaly/RJ
MGM Resorts International,has passed its goal of providing 5 million meals to the Las Vegas community and to other cities it operates resorts in well before 2025.
Nevadans honor veterans’ ‘ultimate sacrifice’ on Memorial Day — PHOTOS
ByAlan Halaly/RJ
At the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, politicians, veterans and their families came together to celebrate Memorial Day, a day to honor loss.
Fire erupts in Red Rock Canyon area on Memorial Day
ByMarvin Clemons/RJ
The fire, first reported shortly before noon, was just off State Route 160, some 7 miles east of Mountain Springs.
‘I just hope she’s in a safe place’: More than 40 children missing in Nevada
ByEstelle Atkinson/RJ
More than two years ago, Bobby Penn dropped his daughter Keira off at school. But when he returned to pick her up, Keira never showed up.
Nevada voter ID initiative survives, clears Supreme Court
ByJessica Hill/RJ
The Nevada Supreme Court ruled in favor of the initiative petition that would require citizens to present photo identification to vote.
How to see Hoover Dam — from the ground, water or sky
ByAlan Halaly/RJ
If you’re hoping to make a stop at Southern Nevada’s own engineering marvel, here are a few options to get the most bang for your buck.
MORE STORIES
'; html += '
' html += '
'+d['title']+'
'; html += '
'; $('.rjp-related .base-'+base+' .field-story').append(html); } }});})(jQuery);
