Crews fully contain & control Prater Fire east of Vista Blvd. in Sparks
SPARKS, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Evacuations have been lifted as the Prater Fire moves away from homes east of Sparks, burning an estimated 2,800 acres since it first started Sunday afternoon.
The fire is fully contained and controlled as of 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7, according to the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center.
About 2,816 acres were burned, a Sparks Fire Department official said Monday night.
According to Sierra Front, Sparks Fire, Reno Fire and the Bureau of Land Management have responding to the Prater Fire, which sparked at around 3:14 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6.
Fire officials have confirmed the fire was sparked by lightning. They said crews nearby witnessed the lightning strike near the big "S" on a hillside in Sparks.
Derek Keller with the Sparks Fire Department said the fire was moving north and east toward the area where the Earthstone fire burned several weeks ago.
Keller said firefighters on the ground are being assisted by air support; however air drops were delayed for a short time because of a drone flying in the area.
Northern Nevada Medical Center, which is in close proximity to the fire, is fully operational and accepting patients after previously diverting ambulances after the fire sparked.
Houses east of Vista Boulevard were also under voluntary evacuations for several hours, but those evacuations have since been lifted.
The Prater Fire has burned 3,000 acres as of 9:00 p.m. on Sunday. The east end of Prater Way is still closed.
