Humboldt County deputies say they have arrested a man connection with a wildfire that started from an illegal burn on BLM property near Winnemucca.
Deputies say 40-year-old Johnnie Donald has been taken into custody and charged with third-degree arson, performance of act or neglect of duty in willful or wanton disregard of safety of persons or property, and violations of Humboldt County Code pertaining to illegal burning.
Deputies say the illegal burning is believed to have ignited the Raglan Fire, which scorched approximately 1,786 acres before being contained by fire crews.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The BLM says the fire started at 1:30 p.m. near mile marker 165 southwest of Winnemucca.
Around 10 buildings are threatened by the fire, and electric and railroad equipment was damaged by the fire.
While a portion of I-80 was closed for about an hour earlier in the day it has since reopened. A railroad line on the west side of the fire has been shut down due to the blaze.
No injuries have been reported and no evacuations are in place.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Power outages due to the fire earlier in the day have since been resolved.
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5:30 p.m. Update
More than 3,000 customers are without power in the Winnemucca area due to a wildfire burning in the area.
On their website, NV Energy is reporting the outages are at the request of the fire department.
No estimated time of restoral has been given.
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4:15 p.m. Update
Both directions of I-80 have reopened west of Winnemucca after a wildfire forced a closure on Tuesday afternoon.
The Nevada Department of Transportation confirmed lanes reopening on their X page.
Firefighters and first responders continue fighting the blaze, which has been dubbed the Raglan Fire.
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Original Story
A wildfire burning in Winnemucca has forced closures in both directions on I-80.
According to a social media post from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, westbound and eastbound lanes of I-80 have been closed west of Winnemucca at mile marker 166.
The fire is burning on both sides of the interstate and the Sheriff's Office does not have a timeframe for when the interstate might reopen.
2 News Nevada is working to confirm the size of the fire if it has caused any injuries, and if it is threatening any buildings.
