(The following statement was issued by Governor Brian Sandoval, Aug. 11)

During the past week in Nevada, lightning has produced 186 fires and burned about 252,000 acres. As of today August 11, 2012, Nevada has 15 large uncontained fires. The largest is the Holloway fire on the border with Oregon at 260,000 acres. Evacuations are in place in Mountain City, Paradise Valley and McDermitt, Nevada, as fires have threatened those communities in the last two days. In addition to the communities that have been threatened, Nevada is losing large amounts of wildlife habitat and some of our remaining sagebrush ecosystems.

Northern Nevada, along with southern Idaho and Oregon, are experiencing large uncontained fires which are reducing the capability to respond to new fire starts. Nevada is expected to continue to have heavy initial attack on new fires over the next three days, as the expected thunderstorms will be drier and not producing any significant moisture.

“First of all I want to thank all of the courageous professionals battling to protect Nevadans and

For information on fires burning in Nevada please visit the Western Great Basin website at: http://gacc.nifc.gov/wgbc/index.htm

Due to the ongoing drought and extreme fire conditions, Nevada citizens should be very responsible with fire and not use campfires. The use of fire in agricultural burning should be curtailed until fire conditions moderate.

Hunters and other recreationalists are reminded to check with local Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service and Nevada Division of Forestry Offices for fire restrictions that may in place.