Preacher Fire near Gardnerville swells to 3,130 acres, evacuations in place

9:00 p.m. update: The Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) has initiated evacuations for areas east of Pine Nut Road to include Fred's Street, Sandoval, Taildragger, Bluebird, and Bar-J Roads as well as in the Sierra Spirit Ranch area including, Blue Sage Road, Badger Lane, Robinson Road and Lena Lane. In addition, Washoe Tribal Police are evacuating the Bodie Flats area in the vicinity of Courtland Avenue.

The lightning-sparked Preacher Fire burning in the Pine Nut Mountains southeast of Gardnerville has swelled to 3,130 acres according to DCSO with winds moving north.

Close to 400 structures are threatened.

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7:00 p.m. update: Monday afternoon winds picked up at the Preacher Fire, causing rapid growth. Flames have now consumed 1,000 acres in the Pine Nut Mountains.

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The Preacher Fire burning in Douglas County has now burned 300 acres according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center. Lightning started the fire which was first reported at 3:45 a.m. on Monday, July 24.

Firefighters got a retardant line around the fire and lifted evacuations, but winds changed the situation at 5:00 p.m. Monday. Changing and increasing winds have carried hot ash outside the perimeter and the north side of the fire is growing.

As of this time no further evacuations of residents are in place. This afternoon, residents of 37 homes in the Blue Bird, Bar J, Fred's Lane and Pinenut Road areas were told to leave and other neighborhoods were told to be prepared. The Douglas County Senior Center was set up as an evacuation center.

The Preacher Mine is in the Pine Nut Mountains.

Over a half-dozen small fires also broke out during the day after lightning storms passed. The largest of those is 13.6 acres.