UPDATE 6:30PM: Fire officials have reduced the amount of acres having burned on the east side of Carson City. Tonight officials report 300 acres have been consumed so far in the Laurel Fire burning on BLM land off of Deer Run Road. While no structures are threatened at this time, there is no estimate of containment.
Fueled by strong wind gusts and dense brush, the Laurel Fire continues to burn toward Brunswick Canyon away from homes and buildings, fire officials report. Multiple agencies from around the region responded including engines and crews from Lake Tahoe and Reno. The Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center reports the fire grew from 7 acres to 300 in three hours at one point threatening homes. Notification of a potential to evacuate were made at Sedge, Quail and Wild Horse roads. The fire was reported at 1 p.m.
According to the 6 p.m. briefing from Sierra Front, the fire will be patrolled by Carson City Fire Department tonight, with mop-up operations continuing Saturday. The fire is smoldering and it is expected that it will continue smoldering through the night. Winds are predicted to significantly reduce in intensity through the night and into Saturday morning.
"All the homes appear to be safe right now but high winds are going to be a challenge for fire crews," said Furlong earlier this afternoon. The Carson City region is under a wind advisory issued by the National Weather Service in Reno. Winds in excess of 45mph caused this fire to move quickly, reports CarsonWeather.com.