Northeast Nevada Wildfire Threatens Fish, Wildlife Habitat

Associated Press

ELKO — More than 300 firefighters are battling a wildland blaze in northeast Nevada that has burned more than 23 square miles (59 sq. kilometers) of mostly remote rangeland and is threatening key habitat for fish and wildlife in the Ruby Mountains.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management said Tuesday the Corta Fire burning about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Elko is headed for the Green Mountain area that contains critical winter habitat for mule deer, sage grouse and federally protected Lahontan cutthroat trout.

The bureau says the Harrison Pass Road leading to the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge has been closed. But there have been no reports of injuries and no structures currently are threatened.

The fire is one of more than a dozen in northern Nevada started by lightening on Sunday. It’s estimated to be 10 percent contained as of Tuesday.