9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 23 update — Firefighters are continuingefforts on the Northeastern corner of the Rush Fire, which still remains active due to wind.

According to Jeff Fontana, public information officer for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eagle Lake Office, there was some growth in that area,yesterday,but not a lot.

Today, Thursday, Aug. 23, crews will continue building line where the fire is active. Winds up to 30 miles per hour are expected and have made containing the Northeast corner difficult, according to Fontana.

He said there is a lot of fuel and its very dry.

“It’s tough, tough firefighting,” he said.

The Rush Fire, started on Rush Top Mountain, approximately 15 miles Southeast of Ravendale, Sunday, Aug. 12.

It has burned an area measuring 42 miles long and 16 miles wide. It is 60 percent contained.

The remainder of the fire is quiet with smoldering in the interior, according to inciweb.org.

According to Fontana, crews will be doing suppression repair, which includes fixing bulldozer lines, by adding water bars to control erosion

As of today, Thursday, Aug.23, there were 822 personnel, four helicopters, 22 engines, 16 bulldozers and 18 water tenders assigned to the fire.

Estimated containment is 12 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28.
The Northern Rockies Management I Team assumed command of the fire Monday, Aug. 20.

Once the fire is contained, Fontana said command will be transferred back to the local BLM who will continue to mop up and control the area to ensure the fire doesn’t move past the containment line.

Public lands managed by BLM in both Northeastern California and northwest Nevada remain closed.

Smoke Creek Road is closed and is a common access route to the Burning Man event in Nevada.

Drivers can take Wendel Road, which becomes High Rock Road in Nevada.