A fire believed to have been caused by lightning on July 4 has grown from 8,000 acres to 30,000 in a remote area on the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) northwest of Las Vegas, according to the Bureau of Land Management. The Gothic Fire, on Range 74 at NTTR, is now the third-largest so far this year in Nevada. The fire is burning on restricted military land in Nye County. The U.S. Air Force and the BLM are coordinating firefighting efforts.
Smoke drifting in from the north is causing hazy skies in Las Vegas. Air quality is currently moderate due to wildfire smoke. NTTR, managed by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, covers about 2.9 million acres, including Range 74, which is used for military testing and training activities. A BLM news release reports no immediate threat to personnel, facilities, or adjacent communities. Because the area is off-limits to the public, thereโs a reduced risk.
