Smoke from remote fire in Sheep Mountains visible in valley
A fire in the Sheep Mountains is creating a plume of smoke visible from the Las Vegas Valley Friday, but officials are not concerned about the blaze.
Officials are letting the slow-moving fire burn because it's at a high elevation and no structures or private property are at risk. It's consuming grass, weeds and brush.
"At this point it's very beneficial because it's clearing things out," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman Dan Balduini said.
The blaze is in rugged terrain about 7,000 feet above sea level in a remote part of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge north of Las Vegas. The fire is estimated to be less than 50 acres.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but officials speculate that it was caused by one of last week's thunderstorms and that recent windy weather caused it to flare up.
Visitors are still being permitted in the refuge.
Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.
