R-14 Buffalo Fire Prompts Emergency Response in Northern Nevada
SUSANVILLE, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Northern California District is currently managing an active wildland fire emergency within the Poodle Mountains Wilderness Study Area, located approximately 20 miles northwest of Gerlach, Nevada.
Federal aviation resources are conducting sustained aerial operations, deploying fire retardant chemicals and water suppression systems to establish protective barriers designed to contain fire advancement. Ground-based firefighting personnel are engaged in direct fire line construction activities, residential and commercial structure protection protocols, and the establishment of remote incident command operations.
The Buffalo Fire currently encompasses approximately 500 acres of actively burning vegetation, primarily consisting of grassland and shrub ecosystems. The fire is burning in proximity to the recent Stockade fire incident from 2024. Critical assets under threat include privately owned rural properties and agricultural infrastructure, federal grazing lease allotments, protected wildlife habitat areas, and significant natural and cultural heritage resources located on both public and private land holdings.
The public should anticipate substantial traffic congestion in the affected region during the coming days as firefighting personnel, emergency response vehicles, and specialized equipment operate throughout the area. This emergency response traffic will coincide with the departure of Burning Man festival participants utilizing the same primary transportation corridors. All members of the public are strongly urged to exercise extreme caution and maintain vigilance for firefighting equipment and emergency vehicles on roadways.
The Bureau of Land Management emphasizes that the operation of unmanned aircraft systems or any form of interference with firefighting operations constitutes a federal criminal offense and is strictly prohibited under federal law.
For current fire status information and updates, please visit the National Interagency Fire Information website at https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.