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Gardnerville Bison Fire July 4, 2013

The Bison Fire started at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, 2013. The lightning-caused fire is located along the western slope of the Pinenut Mountain range in Douglas County, Nevada, and is burning a combination of BLM public lands, Native American allotment lands, and private lands about five miles east of Gardnerville (east of U.S. Highway 395).

There is a diminishing threat to about 20 residences (voluntary evacuations in effect) west of the fire as crews and equipment construct handlines to contain the fire to the Pinenut Creek area. The fire has moved NE and crossed over the crest of the Pine Nut Range in three spots. Water-dropping helicopters stopped two of the smaller of the slopovers on 7/6, and the more northern slopover is at 60+ acres on 7/7. Contingency plans are in place for positioning of both air and ground resources should the fire move farther east.

A portable Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) base has been establishing at the Minden/Tahoe Airport in Douglas County to service up to seven SEAT aircraft working the fire. Four Type 1 heavy air tankers are operating out of the Stead Airport west of Reno. There are also eight helicopters of varying sizes and capabilities dropping water on hotspots, providing medical evacuation if necessary, etc.

The Great Basin Type II Team (IC Whalen) assumed command of the fire on Sunday, July 7 at 6:00 a.m. The Incident Command Post is located at the Douglas County Fairground east of Gardnerville.
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Bison Fire Tuesday July 9, 2013 (4859) Engine 441 with the Northern Utah Interagency Fire Center with tents for firefighters in the background. The only grass area inside the fairgrounds was full of tents so personnel arriving now have to set tents up in the sagebrush area around the incident command post.
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Bison Fire Tuesday July 9, 2013 (4859) Engine 441 with the Northern Utah Interagency Fire Center with tents for firefighters in the background. The only grass area inside the fairgrounds was full of tents so personnel arriving now have to set tents up in the sagebrush area around the incident command post.

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  • Bison Fire Saturday July 6, 2013 (4780) Fire helicopter and portable Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) base at the Minden-Tahoe Airport
  • Bison Fire Saturday July 6, 2013 (4836) Fire helicopter and portable Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) base at the Minden-Tahoe Airport
  • Bison Fire Saturday July 6, 2013 (4850)
  • Bison Fire Saturday July 6, 2013 (4851)
  • Bison Fire Saturday July 6, 2013 (4849)
  • Bison Fire Saturday July 6, 2013 (4852)
  • Bison Fire Tuesday July 9, 2013 (4868) The small area of grass at the fairgrounds was full of tents for the firefighters. Several firefighters were sleeping in the shade where they could find it. Here two firefighters were sleeping on the grass on their backs. One had their uniform pants on and barefoot the other was in shorts. The one in shorts had just got up when I took the photo. Behind them is the flagpole with the American and Nevada State flags being whipped in strong winds which were also accelerating the fire in the mountains far behind.
  • Bison Fire Tuesday July 9, 2013 (4856) The Incident Command Post had taken on a more formal and militarized appearance over the past two days. The fairgrounds was quickly filling up with personnel, vehicles and equipment of all types and sizes. Security was highly controlled and a main security check point had been established at the road leading in to the fairgrounds. Here an unnamed US Forestry firefighter arrived a few hours earlier from Virginia and is assigned to security at the main gate.
  • Bison Fire Tuesday July 9, 2013 (4869) Flathead Hotshots are stationed in the small town of Hungry Horse in northwest Montana, 1,085 miles from Gardnerville, Nevada.
  • Bison Fire Tuesday July 9, 2013 (4871) Syracuse, Utah, Fire Department truck. Syracuse, Utah is 600 miles from Gardnerville, Nevada.
  • Bison Fire Tuesday July 9, 2013 (4860) Expeditors Fire Support Services bus parked next to the small grass area at the fairgrounds which is now completely full of tents for fire personnel.
  • Bison Fire Tuesday July 9, 2013 (4861) The only patch of grass where the first arriving firefighters were lucky to pitch their tents.
  • Bison Fire Tuesday July 9, 2013 (4859) Engine 441 with the Northern Utah Interagency Fire Center with tents for firefighters in the background. The only grass area inside the fairgrounds was full of tents so personnel arriving now have to set tents up in the sagebrush area around the incident command post.
  • Bison Fire Tuesday July 9, 2013 (4873) Outside the secure area of the incident command post and within sight of the main security gate, a company called "The Tshirt Guy.com" was working out of a trailer to produce silk screen t shirts and sweatshirts for fire personnel that had been assigned to the Bison fire. The fire personnel were able to purchase a shirt or sweatshirt with their own money. Here three firefighters had just walked out of the command post to the temporary shirt shop and were making their individual purchases. Sean was working the shirt sales at the time. The business is based in Eldorado Hills, CA. Sean said that he would be working the Bison fire for one more day and then moving on to another fire, possibly the one in the Las Vegas area. He said that they will go to a fire for shirt sales once the assigned crew reaches 500 or more. Sean believes he had sold between 100 and 200 shirts at the Bison Fire. <a href="http://www.thetshirtguy.com/gallery_wildfires.htm">http://www.thetshirtguy.com/gallery_wildfires.htm</a>
  • Bison Fire Tuesday July 9, 2013 (4878) The Bison Fire commemorative shirt. "Bison 2013 Wild Fire, Carson City District Nevada" from thetshirtguy.com
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