...
By Jesus Mesa
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Vice presidential hopeful Governor Tim Walz's Nevada rally on Monday was postponed because of the Davis Fire in Washoe Valley.
The campaign had hoped to hold the rally in Reno, planned for the night before the highly anticipated presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, but plans changed as the fire had burned 6,500 acres south of Reno as of Sunday.
"As crews continue working around the clock to mitigate the Davis Fire in Northern Nevada, the Harris-Walz campaign is postponing Governor Tim Walz's scheduled rally in Reno on Monday, September 9th," the campaign said in a statement.
Read More
California Line Fire Videos Show Scale of Blaze as Residents Evacuate4 min read
San Bernardino Sought Emergency Action on Home Insurance Months Before Fire5 min read
Southwest Suggests Emergency Landing Due to Wildfire Confusion3 min read
...
"We will continue to work with federal, state, and local partners to monitor the situation and urge impacted communities to follow evacuation and safety guidance from local authorities."
The Davis Fire, about 20 miles outside Reno, quickly grew to about 10 square miles after it started Saturday afternoon in Davis Creek Regional Park in Washoe Valley. Firefighters struggled to control the fire because of the steep terrain and temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Three firefighters were injured, according to state officials.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency on Sunday afternoon, allowing more state resources to be used to fight the fire. By Monday morning, the fire had burned 4,703 acres.
Evacuation orders were put in place for parts of south Reno, but they were lifted in Virginia City by Monday morning. Some homes, businesses and traffic signals lost power, and schools stayed closed.
As of Monday morning, the fire had burned roughly 32 square miles of grass and brush—an area equivalent to roughly 15,467 football fields—sending a thick cloud of dark smoke into the sky. The fire was just 3 percent contained. Air quality in northern Washoe Valley and south Reno was categorized as "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups," while other areas reported "Moderate" smoke levels.
Despite the fire, Walz is still scheduled to arrive in Las Vegas at 6 p.m. Monday. He will stay there until Tuesday morning to give a speech at a campaign reception for the Harris Victory Fund.
After the event, the Minnesota governor will head to Phoenix, Arizona, where he will attend other campaign events.
Follow Newsweek's live blog for election updates.
Update 9/9/24, 5:05 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines