By Vernon Robison
Moapa Valley Progress
Published July 7, 2010
A wildfire burned over 600 acres and destroyed several structures on Thursday, July 1 in Warm Springs just northwest of Moapa. The fire which started a little before 10:00 a.m., spread quickly through palm trees and thick vegetation and raged out of control for nearly eleven hours before firefighters were able to contain the blaze late Thursday evening.
The fire appeared to be caused by a work crew contracted by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) to trim palm fronds and clear out vegetation to reduce the risk of fire. The crews were working directly across the street from the Moapa Valley Wildlife Refuge in the SNWA property to the north. Just inside the fence, were the burned remains of the pick-up truck and a tree chipper where the fire apparently ignited.
Destroyed in the fire was the LDS Recreation Area at Warm Springs including the “Big House” and missionary’s quarters. Also destroyed was the nearby home of Mary Primo.
The first alert sounded for local volunteer firefighters at around 10:15 a.m. The initial call reported a vehicle fire in the area, according to Clark County Fire Department (CCFD) officials. Volunteers from Moapa Station 72 were first on the scene followed soon after by members of Overton Station 74. Within a short time, all volunteers from all three stations had assembled to assist in the efforts. Paid firefighters from CCFD were also called to the scene as well as BLM
firefighters and Nevada Division of Forestry crews. Air support was provided by helicopters dropping water and air tankers dropping flame retardant on the hottest spots of the fire.
Firefighting efforts were quickly focused on the homes that were located on the front side of the fire along the south side State Route 168. Firefighters took an aggressive stance in the Sinclair Road area where a cluster of about a dozen homes are located. State Route 168 was closed and traffic was rerouted around the Warm Springs loop. Residents in the Sinclair Road area were advised to evacuate the area, but no mandatory evacuations took place, according to Metropolitan Police officials. Many stayed behind and were assisted by neighbors and friends in removing horses and other livestock from harm.
In this area, firefighters were largely successful. All of the homes in that area were spared, though at least one had been completely surrounded by flames. However, some barns, garages and other outbuildings were lost.
But properties in the less densely populated areas on the south side of the blaze were not so lucky. At around noon, winds shifted bringing the blaze back toward the LDS recreation area and the neighboring properties along the east side of Warm Springs Road.
The LDS Church Warm Springs Recreation Area, in operation since the mid 1970s, included spring fed pools, campsites, a large ranch home (The Big House) and two mobile homes for resident missionaries. These facilities were destroyed in the fire.
“The ranch up there is just gone,” said Moapa Ward Bishop Jon Blackwell. “The Big House’ was burned all the way down to the stone pillars. It was heartbreaking to see; such a beautiful spot with so many good memories.”
Two sets of resident missionaries serving at the Recreation Area were displaced.
Also destroyed was the small home of Mary Primo, a 102 year old invalid who has lived in the home for 32 years.
At the time of the fire Primo and her 72 year old daughter/caregiver, LaRelle Leppin, were at home sleeping. Volunteers from Moapa Station 72 pounded on the front door, woke the two ladies and helped them out of the house with only a few belongings.
“We would not have even woken up if (volunteer) Chuck Lindsay and other neighbors hadn’t come to the door and gotten us out,” Leppin said in an interview.
After they had gotten to safety, Leppin said that she circled back around to watch the house. She said that it seemed fine and that the fire had moved in a different direction. Then suddenly she saw billowing black smoke rising just behind the property. A moment later the thick palm trees just behind the house burst into flame, she said. “Within a few minutes, the house was just a huge orange ball of fire,” Leppin said.
“It is horrible watching everything you own go up in smoke,” an emotional Leppin continued. “We have nothing now. I came here five years ago to take care of my mother and I promised her then that she would be allowed to die in her own home. Now that is all gone.”
Leppin expressed anger at the conditions that, apparently, had led to the fire being started. “They (the work crews) have been down there working for over a week now,” she said. “Why they must be doing what they were doing right now during the hot, dry, high burn season I just don’t know. It shows that they didn’t know what they were doing.”
On Thursday afternoon, Primo and Leppin were taken in by Moapa residents and friends, Ryan and Charlene Udall. Leppin expressed deep appreciation for the compassion shown by the Udalls and by the rest of the community. “The people in the community here have been bringing us stuff all afternoon,” Leppin said. “I just can’t believe the good people of this Valley.”
Despite these losses, firefighters were able to save a larger home, located on property between the LDS recreation Area and the Primo home, which had been serving as an office headquarters for the SNWA.
Crews from local utility providers were in the area assisting behind the scenes in the firefighting efforts. Overton Power District (OPD) dispatched all of its line crews to the area. About a dozen power poles were damaged in the fire. Crews were forced to cut power to the affected areas at about 11:30 a.m. as the fire approached the power infrastructure. After the fire was contained, OPD crews worked until after 10:00 p.m. on Thursday night and throughout the following day to replace all the poles and bring power back to the area.
Moapa Valley Water District (MVWD) pumping facilities at Warm Springs were not threatened by the fire. But pumping stopped for a time when the power was shut down. The facilities resumed production when MVWD crews brought emergency generators online. Around 1.5 million gallons of water were used in fighting the fire, according to MVWD officials. With few fire hydrants in the immediately affected areas, firefighters were shuttling water to the scene in tenders and tanker trucks from the nearest hydrants.
By Thursday evening, the winds had died down and the blaze was under control. BLM and Nevada Division of Forestry crews continued working through the night and over the weekend to monitor the area and extinguish all hot spots and smoldering embers.
Crews were allowed to set up a tent city camp at the Moapa Park to offer workers a place to rest during their labors.
Highway 168 was re-opened. But the Warm Springs loop road was closed over the weekend except to residents of the area. No one was killed or seriously injured in the fire. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion, according to BLM officials.
One piece of Moapa Fire District equipment, a fire tender from station 74, was damaged when a hot ember landed on the seat inside the cab. Over time, the ember ignited and the inside of the cab was burned and seriously damaged.
