Kellene StockwellChannel 2 News
Authorities say two 15-year-old boys are to blame for a 2,730 acre wildfire near Gardnerville that reportedly burned down three structures.
Investigators say the unidentified boys left a fire burning at a fort they built. And later, afternoon winds caused the fire to spread. The resulting Ray May Fire is currently 50% contained with no estimate on full containment.
Both boys are charged with third degree arson.
Homeowners in the Pine Creek and Lena Lane areas remain under voluntary evacuation orders.
Pine Nut Road is open to local traffic ONLY.
Fire emergency personnel are encouraging local visitors to stay out of the fire area, specifically the Preachers Mine road area due to emergency operations and public safety.
Two firefighters received non-life threatening injuries while battling the fire Wednesday morning and are receiving treatment for their injuries.
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The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension's Living with Fire program is encouraging residents in the area of the Ray May Fire to take extra precautions to prepare their families and homes in case they are asked again to evacuate their neighborhoods.
Ed Smith of the Living With Fire program says its crucial that residents leave immediately when firefighters ask them to.
"That's No. 1," Smith said. "If they tell you to leave – get out of there immediately."
However, residents who have some time can take some precautions. For instance:
Dress properly: Wear only cotton or wool clothes, including long pants, shirt and boots. Carry gloves, a handkerchief to cover your face, water to drink and goggles. Keep a flashlight and portable radio handy to take with you.
Prepare the inside of your home: Close interior doors, leave a light on in each room, remove non fire-resistant curtains or other combustible materials from around windows; close fire-resistant drapes, shutters and blinds; turn off pilot lights and move overstuffed furniture to the center of the room.
Prepare the outside of your home: Move cars into the garage pointing out with keys left in the ignition; leave the garage door closed but unlocked, disconnected from the electric opener; shut off propane and close exterior house vents; prop a ladder against the house to give firefighters access to the roof; close all doors and windows and leave doors unlocked; turn on outside lights.
Grab your valuables: Important documents; credit and debit cards; driver's license; laptops and backup computer files; cell phone and charger; medications; personal toiletries and a packed overnight bag; family photos, videos and heirlooms; any photographs of the exterior of the house and landscape.
If you have time: Wet down your wood shake roof or shingle roofs; fill trash cans and buckets with water and leave where firefighters can find them; and clearly note for firefighters any pool, pond or other water source on your property.
For more detailed instructions for evacuating and preparing for an evacuation, check the Living With Fire instruction page on page 582 of the Carson City telephone directory, page A25 of the AT&T Reno-Sparks phone book or go to Livingwithfire.info and click on the "during the fire" tab.
