Fire Crews Seek 3 Juveniles Seen Near 'S' Fire Area in Sparks

Sparks Fire Department officials say they would like to speak with three male juveniles seen after the fully contained 2,554-acre 'S' Fire started in the hills east of Sparks early Wednesday afternoon. 

Authorities say the three juveniles were witnessed in the hillside area by the 'S', behind Northern Nevada Medical Offices between 12:30 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. The juveniles are described as between the ages of 12-15 years old. One was caucasian with blond hair, and is 5'9" tall. The other two are darker skinned and about 5'5" to 5'8" tall. They all had backpacks and were last seen being picked up from Pagni Park in an older silver color Mercedes SUV and leaving on Primio Way. 

If you have any information that can help the Sparks Fire Department, call Fire Marshal Bob King at 775-353-2261, or Secret Witness at 775-322-4900, or text your tip to 847411. Your information will remain anonymous. 

The Sparks Fire Department along with Reno, Truckee Meadows, BLM and other fire agencies assisted with the incident. 

Sparks City officials said most of the fire is burning out of city limits and onto BLM land. 

Fire crews used a combination of hand tools, heavy machinery and air power to get out ahead of the blaze. Helicopters made several water drops, while single engine planes dropped fire retardant with the help from two heavy air tankers.

Fire Chief Chris Maples, with the Sparks Fire Department said, "Each one of those are capable of carrying 3,000 gallons of water and retardant. So we're hoping we can get those out and get to the head of the fire."

The location and terrain has posed a problem for firefighters. 

"It's a combination of things. We had a lot of precipitation over the winter. We had a lot of fuels growing. Now we've got the heat, low humidity and the winds," said Maples. "It's just we're so much further from access roads, that it will continue to go and we will have a hard time getting equipment into it."

Flash fuels like cheat grass and light brush increased the fire's growth.

Maples added, "This is an area that has been burned multiple times in the past, that's partly why its moving so fast. These are flashy fuels and it's wind driven."

"This is an area that has been burned multiple times in the past, that's partly why it's moving so fast. These are flashy fuels and wind driven," says Sparks Fire Chief Chris Maples. 

A City of Sparks spokesman says no structures are threatened, no evacuations have been ordered, and that nearby businesses and Northern Nevada Medical Center remain open for business. 

The hospital released this statement: 

The safety of our patients is our first priority, and we have been reassured by Sparks Fire Department that they are confident our building is safe. We remain open to patients. We will continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with the fire department and take any appropriate measures as needed.

Motorists are asked to avoid the area to let crews fight the fire. 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.