New Pass Fire (Nevada)

Burning across Churchill County, Nevada, the 37,899-acre New Pass Fire reached full containment after a 19-day run that saw it expand at an approximate average of 1,995 acres per day. Centered 30 miles northwest of Austin, the lightning-ignited blaze burned through federal lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, consuming tall grass reaching 2.5 feet in height. Fire behavior at the site has since quieted to minimal, smoldering, and creeping activity.

Managing the incident required a Type 3 Team and 114 personnel, driving total costs to $10,705,901. Despite this significant mobilization on federal terrain, the broader landscape reflects a notably subdued fire year. Across the country, 2,893,377 hectares have burned so far in 2026, tracking 47 percent below the two-decade average during a regional fire season that typically spans from June to October.