Nevada Residents Flee From Davis Wildfire, Many Find Housing at Casino Hotels

Posted on: September 10, 2024, 09:25h. 

Last updated on: September 10, 2024, 09:34h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

A wildfire south of Reno, Nev., forced an estimated 14K residents to evacuate their homes over the weekend. Some have found temporary shelter in nearby resort casinos.

Smoke from the Davis Fire
Smoke from the Davis Fire, pictured above. The wildfire is located south of Reno, Nev. (Image: InciWeb)

Several properties are offering those impacted by the wildfire discounted rates. The Row in Reno is charging evacuees $59 a night and waiving its resort fees.

J Resort and Grand Sierra Resort are also offering discounts to evacuees. In addition, the Nugget Casino Resort, in Sparks, is charging $100 a night with the special code EVAC24.

Fire Began in Davis Creek Park

Called the Davis Fire, the wildfire started at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Davis Creek Regional Park. Flames scorched much of the park and damaged park buildings.

Driven by continuing winds, the fire spread northeast in Washoe Valley and now involves approximately 4,703 acres. None of it was contained as of Monday with some 600 firefighting personnel in the area.

At least 14 buildings were damaged by the wildfire and there was a “moderate” amount of smoke in the Reno-Sparks region, officials added. The threat of fire also led to the temporary closing of the Sky Tavern Lodge and Mount Rose Ski Tahoe ski resorts.

Also, as of Monday, local schools were shuttered while Mt. Rose Highway and Old US Highway 395 between East Lake Boulevard and Bowers Mansion Interchange, were closed.

NV Energy reported that some 17K customers in the region lost power. As of Monday night, that number was lowered to 3,100 customers, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Due to the wildfire, the air quality in northern Washoe Valley, south Reno, and Virginia City was listed as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” Children, the elderly, and those with chronic ailments are particularly at risk.

Washoe County and the Red Cross of Nevada opened an evacuation center with food and shelter at Washoe County Senior Services, 1155 East 9th St., in Reno. Small animals can be taken to the shelter while larger animals and livestock can be taken to the UNR Equestrian Center at 1290 Valley Road in Reno. The Silver Saddle Ranch in Carson City is accepting animals, too.

Authorities have yet to reveal the cause of the wildfire.

State, Federal Responses

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo (R), issued a state of emergency in response to the fire.

I implore all residents to follow the directions of local authorities assisting in the evacuations. Our firefighters and emergency management teams are fully engaged and working tirelessly to mitigate this threat and prevent further losses,” Lombardo said in a statement.

“We are praying for the thousands of Americans under mandatory evacuation orders out West,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday in reference to the wildfires in Nevada and elsewhere. “We urge everyone … in the affected areas to remain vigilant and heed the warnings of local officials, especially those who have been ordered to evacuate.”