National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
WILDLAND FIRE News Release
July 26, 2019
Release No.: 2019-26
Contacts: Bureau of Land Management - Las Vegas Field Office, 702-595-2034
National Park Service- Lake Mead National Recreation Area, 702-283-2344
3,640-Acre Fire Burning In Northeast Clark County Across From Echo Bay
LAS VEGAS - 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 about 15 miles southeast of Echo Bay.
No structures are currently threatened and all roads in the area remain open.
Suppression resources on-site include two handcrews and aerial resources which include an air attack coordination platform, two single engine air tankers and two heavy air tankers.
Visitors to Lake Mead may observe smoke and fire aviation operations in the Virgin Basin and Overton Arm.
Airplanes and helicopters will use the lake just south of Echo Bay to fill buckets. The airplanes will appear as if they are landing on the lake, but they will not stop. They will scoop up water and continue to the fire scene. The helicopters will make more precise dips with their buckets to collect water.
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.
-NPS-
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
