Two large wildfires burning on the peak of Mount Charleston, Nevada, about 35 miles Northwest of Las Vegas, are being fought by firefighters. As of Tuesday, more than 800 firefighters, 44 engines, 10 water tenders, and 9 helicopters were working to protect homes and a recreation center from the Carpenter 1 fire.
There are 19 hotshot crews fighting altogether, including eight elite Type 1 hotshot teams, the top wildfire firefighters in the country. According to NBC News the Nevada fires have become the top priority fires in the west because they are covering almost 31 sq. miles of land.
As of Tuesday night, the fire was at 15 percent containment. Officials expect to have full control by July 19.
The immense amount of smoke caused by the fires caused a health advisory for the surrounding areas that is in effect until Sunday. Three communities, Trout Canyon, Lee Canyon, and Kyle Canyon, were forced to evacuate.
The air quality of the area significantly improved Thursday, and health officials have brought down the alert from unhealthful to moderate.
LA Times reports that Suzanne Shelp from the U.S. Forest Service says thunderstorms expected Thursday could either help or hurt the fires. The rain will definitely weaken the fires, but the possibility of lighting strikes could worsen them.
“The number of resources should start decreasing if we have a good day today,” Shelp says.
As of Thursday morning, about 1,264 firefighters are still battling to contain the blaze. Although they are the worst, the Nevada fires are unfortunately only two of 22 wildfires scorching over 400,000 acres of the west coast.