Pyramid Lake is closed to boating and watercraft activities through Tuesday as firefighting aircraft use water from the lake to help battle fires in the area, according to the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe in an online post.
The tribe said aircraft have been authorized to dip into Pyramid Lake to assist with firefighting efforts involving the Bug Fire in Hungry Valley and a newly developing fire in Palomino Valley. The public notice was posted around noon Monday.
“Pyramid Lake will be closed for the remainder of August 10 and all of August 11 to boating and watercraft activities. IN an effort to assist firefighting personnel, authorizations have been given for aircraft to dip into Pyramid Lake to help extinguish the bug fire out of Hungry Valley and the newly developing fire in Palomino Valley. We cannot express enough thanks to the firefighting personnel. We pray for their safe return as well as health and safety to our neighbors”
The tribe also warned that drone use is prohibited while firefighting aircraft are taking water from the lake. The notice said drones could delay aircraft assisting firefighters.
A shorter notice from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe aquatic invasive species program, later shared by the tribe, said the WID station between Sutcliffe and Nixon would be shut down for the remainder of the day because of the fire. The program said updates would be provided about when the station would reopen in the coming days.
By 2:25 p.m., the tribe had issued a warning to tribal members and cattlemen in the path of the fire.
“All tribal members and cattlemen need to leave the area where the fire is currently headed. Any livestock currently in the area is not as important as the safety of our tribal members. Please leave the area and be safe coming down the mountain.”
At 3:07 p.m., the tribe posted an update identifying the new fire in Palomino Valley as the Stallion Fire and reporting that it had reached 1,000 acres. That information had not been independently confirmed with fire agencies working in the area as of publication.
The tribe also reported that State Routes 445 and 446 remained open at 3:07 p.m. The tribe said it would continue releasing more information as it becomes available.
The tribe said it would continue releasing information as it becomes available.
