Update, 7:30 a.m. Monday: The Martin Fire has swelled to nearly 330,000 acres, making it the largest wildfire in the United States by a margin of hundreds of thousands of acres. Read the latest update here. Original story: Hundreds of firefighters near the small northern Nevada town of Paradise Valley are fighting the fast moving Martin Fire, an approximately 240,000-acre behemoth blaze producing up to 45-foot flames. The specially-equipped aircraft that usually maps fires is currently undergoing maintenance, so firefighters have estimated the fire at roughly 239,289 acres — a conservative figure, according to Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team spokesperson Norm Rooker. In layman's terms, the fire is burning an estimated 374 square-miles of Nevada. So far no structures have been lost and there are no evacuation orders are in effect, but the flames are bearing down on a number of ranches and other structures in the area. Rooker said the fire's size isn't the only challenge firefighters are facing. It's moving unusually fast, too. At times, he said, the fire is spreading at speeds up to eleven miles per hour. "That's faster than a horse can run," he said. "This one is moving really hot and fast." Daytime temperatures are 5 to 10 degrees above normal, humidity is low and strong winds out of the southwest are expected for the next three days — atmospheric conditions that are prime for fire. Conditions through the night aren't much better, Rooker said. But an extraordinary amount of fuel in the area is what's really driving the blaze. The load of cheat grass — the Martin Fire's primary fuel source — is 200 percent to 1,000 percent above normal. "The fuels are critically dry, we've got an unbelievably heavy fuel load — it's like gasoline on a straw ... it's just carrying fire unbelievably quick," he said. Despite the challenges, firefighters have successfully defended homes and other structures in the area. Rooker said firefighters successfully stopped the fire's forward progress along its southern line last night and continued building line around the fire's other flanks . But the fire burned aggressively still, and took a "major run" into Elko County last night. Multiple large air tankers and helicopters have been deployed to the fire, but flames were moving so quickly during previous days that it simply burned over retardant lines, Rooker said. Moving forward, firefighters will be coordinating different types of large air tankers and ground crews to try an out-maneuver the fast moving flames. "This is almost like a military-coordinated attack," Rooker said. "We have everything but artillery."<doc-sep>WINNEMUCCA, Nev. — The Bureau of Land Management is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the Martin Fire, which has burned more than 680 square miles in Humboldt and Elko counties in northern Nevada since it started a week ago. Anyone with information about this fire or individuals who may be responsible is asked to contact BLM law enforcement at 775-857-3511. The Martin Fire, named for the Martin Creek area, started 11:30 p.m. July 4 about 7 miles north of Paradise Valley. The fire is 439,230 acres with 48 percent contained. Investigators have confirmed the fire was human-caused. “This fire has damaged and affected ranches and numerous resources,” said BLM Winnemucca District Manager Ester McCullough. “We would like to thank our partners who have assisted us with the suppression efforts and continue to help bring the fire under control.” The wind-driven wildfire has burned a path 57 miles long and 31 miles wide across northern Nevada in the past six days.<doc-sep>While fire officials in several states continue to battle destructive wildfires out west, firefighters in Colorado were given a much-needed hand from some much-needed rain. Crews were able to gain better control of several of the largest wildfires in the state, including the Spring Creek Fire. Meanwhile, in California a new 500-acre wildfire ignited Sunday night, shutting down Interstate 580. In Utah, residents affected by the Dollar Ridge Fire are being allowed back to their homes, Duchesne County sheriff's officials said. Newsweek has updates for the largest fires affecting the western United States, including the Spring Creek Fire in Colorado and the Martin Fire in Nevada. Martin Fire Paradise Valley, Nevada 399,429 Acres, 8 Percent Contained The Martin Fire first ignited on Thursday about 4 miles northeast of Paradise Valley. Officials are still investigating the cause. According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, the fire grew by 88,000 acres on Sunday, making it the largest wildfire currently burning in the United States. "The fire remains very active under the combination of high temperatures, low humidity and strong southwest winds," officials said. Officials with the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) and the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Law Enforcement Division would like to speak to anyone who may have been camping or near Martin Creek or Martin Creek Canyon on the night of July Fourth. Anyone who may have information on the person or people involved with the fire is asked to contact the Humboldt County Secret Witness line at 775-623-6969, the BLM's Law Enforcement tip line at 775-885-6117 or visit the HCSO's Report Suspicious Activity site here. Spring Creek Fire Fort Garland, Colorado 107,627 Acres, 70 Percent Contained The largest fire in Colorado was doused with long overdue rain, allowing firefighters to build containment lines over the weekend. "Everything is moving in the right direction," Linda Smith, Costilla County spokeswoman, told The Denver Post. The human-caused fire destroyed at least 132 homes and damaged an additional 119. The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team said Monday that residents are returning to the burned area but reminded them to remain on high alert. Highway 160 is now open in both directions, but Highway 12 remains closed from mile marker 7 to mile marker 22.5, and Highway 69 is closed from mile marker 5 to mile marker 42. County Fire Sacramento, California 90,288 Acres, 73 Percent Contained Over 2,600 fire personnel continue to work to contain the County Fire affecting Napa and Yolo counties in California. The wildfire, which began June 30, grew nearly 2,000 acres over the weekend to reach over 90,000 acres. "Firefighters are working aggressively to mop up and strengthen control lines," the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Monday. Several evacuations were lifted, including along the eastern shore of Lake Berryessa, east to the Napa-Yolo County Line, north of Highway 128 and south of the intersection of East Side Road and Knoxville Berryessa Road. The County Fire has destroyed 16 structures, damaged three and threatened 96. 416 Fire Durango, Colorado 54,129 Acres, 50 Percent Contained The 416 Fire continues to burn in the San Juan National Forest near Durango. Officials announced Monday that significant rain is expected to reach the area by midweek. La Plata County issued pre-evacuation notices for 317 residences in Tripp Creek, Dyke Canyon, Hermosa Circle and Falls Creek Ranch. "With the predicted weather, the fire is not expected to show noticeable spread or significant smoke production. However, it may continue to show smokes until winter weather ends the fire season," officials said Monday. Fire spokeswoman Kathy Arnoldus told The Denver Post that firefighters will not build containment lines on the western and northern parts of the fire because they are in inaccessible wilderness areas. Dollar Ridge Fire Duchesne, Utah 49,789 Acres, 35 Percent Contained More than 800 firefighters are working to contain the human-caused Duchesne Fire, which has destroyed at least 90 homes. According to KSTU-TV, a majority of evacuated residents have been allowed to return to their homes. Authorities said there is a "high potential" that the fire will grow to the south and west, with the blaze "spreading through large dead and down stands of timber stringers" in the next 24 hours. Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are expected over the area Monday and Tuesday.<doc-sep>
Hot and dry conditions across much of the United States have created a perfect storm for wildfires in several states. The largest of those fires was burning over nearly 400,000 acres of land in Nevada on Monday after just a few days. The Martin fire started July 5 near Paradise Valley, Nevada. In the days following, it spread to 399,429 acres, according to the incident information system on Monday. Grass, brush and some small pieces of timber fueled the fire, spreading it across the county. There was also a persistent wind that helped grow the fire from where it was already burning. The fire, burning in Humboldt County, was the largest burning anywhere in the entire country, according to NASA. The space agency captured the fire and the residual smoke on one of its satellites. The flames were reaching heights of 45 feet, and the fire was spreading quickly. The cause of the fire is unknown. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office and Bureau of Land Management were asking those in the area Wednesday and Thursday to help identify anyone who might be responsible for starting the fire. The fire was only 8 percent contained as of mid-Monday, but it was estimated that the fire could be contained by the weekend, or July 15. The fire is extremely active, and the plan is to focus on its northeastern flank, where it's spreading quickest and where there is the least containment, said the InciWeb notice. On Monday, the fire was heading in the direction of Elko County. It was unclear whether any structures were damaged. Other fires were raging in Nevada's neighboring states California and Utah, but none of those fires matched the Martin fire in size. There are more than 500 people working to contain the fire. "Crews and equipment are making excellent progress building containment lines along the southeast flank of the fire," said an InciWeb update. The people battling the flames are using a new technique. First, they put down a line of water, followed by a flame retardant. This tactic helped make the conditions safe for the crews fighting the fire to dig a containment line, according to the update.