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RENO, Nev. (AP) - Firefighters were hampered by high winds again Sunday in their battle against a remote wildfire that has blackened 292 square miles of northern Nevada rangeland.
The Winters fire 50 miles northeast of Winnemucca has exploded from 19,000 acres to 187,000 acres since Thursday, making it one of the nation's biggest wildfires of the season, said fire information officer Susan Marzec.
While no structures were either damaged or directly threatened, the blaze posed a potential risk to the tiny towns of Midas and Tuscarora as well as scattered ranches. The fire was within three miles of Midas and 11 miles of Tuscarora.
"The fire is continuing to make its move because of gusty winds and dryness," Marzec said. "Every time we make headway we're back where we started. Fortunately, we are out in the country and not near any major big cities."
The brush fire - covering an area 18 miles wide and 28 miles long - was 5 percent contained, and no estimate was available on when it would be fully contained.
Nearly 400 firefighters were making the protection of homes in Midas and Tuscarora a top priority. They also were working with ranchers to move cattle out of the path of the blaze.
"As long as wind conditions are there it makes it tough," Marzec said. "The other thing that's tough is we have such limited resources because there are so many high-priority fires burning in the nation."
Elsewhere across the state, firefighters gained ground on several other remote lightning-caused fires that have scorched 108,360 acres or 169 square miles of rangeland. No homes were threatened.
Combined with the Winters fire, the blazes have charred 295,360 acres or 461 square miles - exceeding the total of all other current wildfires across the nation.
The 51,435-acre Hambly complex in Lincoln County was 70 percent contained with full containment expected Tuesday.
"Fire activity was minimal yesterday due to higher humidity and light rainfall over the area," fire information officer Chris Hanefeld said Sunday.
In Elko County, the 41,000-acre Basco fire was 25 percent contained, while the 4,467-acre Taylor blaze was 40 percent contained.
In the Bureau of Land Management's Ely district, the 3,500-acre Four Wheeler fire in northern Spring Valley was 40 percent contained, the 3,100-acre Peers fire near Pony Springs was 90 percent contained and the 3,100-acre Kix Miller fire in Muleshoe Valley was fully contained.
The Winters fire 50 miles northeast of Winnemucca has exploded from 19,000 acres to 187,000 acres since Thursday, making it one of the nation's biggest wildfires of the season, said fire information officer Susan Marzec.
While no structures were either damaged or directly threatened, the blaze posed a potential risk to the tiny towns of Midas and Tuscarora as well as scattered ranches. The fire was within three miles of Midas and 11 miles of Tuscarora.
"The fire is continuing to make its move because of gusty winds and dryness," Marzec said. "Every time we make headway we're back where we started. Fortunately, we are out in the country and not near any major big cities."
The brush fire - covering an area 18 miles wide and 28 miles long - was 5 percent contained, and no estimate was available on when it would be fully contained.
Nearly 400 firefighters were making the protection of homes in Midas and Tuscarora a top priority. They also were working with ranchers to move cattle out of the path of the blaze.
"As long as wind conditions are there it makes it tough," Marzec said. "The other thing that's tough is we have such limited resources because there are so many high-priority fires burning in the nation."
Elsewhere across the state, firefighters gained ground on several other remote lightning-caused fires that have scorched 108,360 acres or 169 square miles of rangeland. No homes were threatened.
Combined with the Winters fire, the blazes have charred 295,360 acres or 461 square miles - exceeding the total of all other current wildfires across the nation.
The 51,435-acre Hambly complex in Lincoln County was 70 percent contained with full containment expected Tuesday.
"Fire activity was minimal yesterday due to higher humidity and light rainfall over the area," fire information officer Chris Hanefeld said Sunday.
In Elko County, the 41,000-acre Basco fire was 25 percent contained, while the 4,467-acre Taylor blaze was 40 percent contained.
In the Bureau of Land Management's Ely district, the 3,500-acre Four Wheeler fire in northern Spring Valley was 40 percent contained, the 3,100-acre Peers fire near Pony Springs was 90 percent contained and the 3,100-acre Kix Miller fire in Muleshoe Valley was fully contained.
