2ND UPDATE JULY 29: The Bonnelli Peak Fire is expected to be 100% contained by 6 p.m. tonight.
UPDATE JULY 29: Firefighters are gaining the upper hand on a fire burning near Lake Mead. At last check, the Bonelli Peak Fire was 78% contained.
The fire has destroyed more than 4,000 acres so far. No structures or roads have been affected or threatened.
UPDATE JULY 28: Firefighters are using UTVs to gain access to the northeast boundary of Bonelli Peak Fire to locate and eliminate hot spots along the fire perimeter, according to authorities.
The southwest boundary of the fire is inaccessible rocky terrain and fire managers will be flying over this portion of the fire looking for potential control challenges.
Fire activity has been minimal for the last two days
UPDATE JULY 27: The current size of the Bonelli Peak Fire is 4,465 acres. 120 personnel, 3 crews, 1 Type 3 helicopter, 1 Type 2 helicopter, 2 fixed-wing aircraft and 3 engines are working on the fire. At this time, there is zero containment.
UPDATE 4:44 P.M. Officials with Lake Mead National Recreation Area say the Bonelli Peak Fire has grown and was started by lightning.
Read the full update below:
The Bonelli Peak Fire burning in Southern Nevada has grown from 3,640 acres to 4,465 acres. It was caused by lightning.
The fire was moving to the northeast, but no smoke is visible. That’s subject to change with wind shifts.
Operations will be handed over to Nevada Type 3 Team 2 July 27. The team is assigned four handcrews, three engines and three helicopters.
No private lands are currently involved. The fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service-managed lands in Clark County.
ORIGINAL STORY
A large fire is burning about 15 miles southeast of Echo Bay in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
The Bonelli Peak Fire is approximately 3,640 acres and is burning mostly on Bureau of Land Management-managed public land and about 50 acres on Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Visitors to Lake Mead may observe smoke and fire aviation operations in the Virgin Basin and Overton Arm.
Aviation crews may also be using the Echo Bay Airstrip. The public should maintain a safe distance from all fire aviation.
As a reminder, no drones are allowed in active fire areas, and drones are never allowed within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. If a drone flies over a fire, air operations could be suspended until the risk of a mid-air collision with a drone is resolved. When firefighting aircraft are grounded for any reason, fire crews lose access to a valuable resource which can adversely affect the safety and efficiency of the overall firefighting effort.
A temporary flight restriction has been placed over the fire. Before you fly into the area, please obtain approval by contracting air-to-air contact at 123.675 for both transmit and receive. Contact is 52SA or Echo Air Attack.
The Bonelli Peak Fire was reported on July 24 at 10 p.m.
