2025 Nevada wildfires


Aeries of wildfires burned in the U.S. state of Nevada during 2025.

Background

The typical "fire season" in Nevada lasts from May to October, the time when vegetation is the driest. However, the timing varies every year based on a number of other factors, including if there is hot, dry weather, the amount of dry vegetation, and when there are more natural causes possible, such as lightning. The peak time of the season is also determined by these factors.

Summary

In mid-June, the Nevada State Forester and Fire Warden had a "cautious" prediction for wildfire season. There were abnormally dry conditions for the month, mostly from less snowpack in lower elevations and a warm spring melting snowpack at higher elevations, and drought conditions set in early. Over half the state was already under drought, compared to just 1% last year. By June 4, there had already been about 150 wildfire reports that burned, already half of the average calls a year. A large crop of cheatgrass from 2024, an invasive and highly flammable weed, was never tamped down and a second crop is growing. This will cause a heightened risk for Western and Southern Nevada. Forecasts predict fire activity will slow in mid-July during monsoon season. Continuing into the season, the heavy load of cheatgrass continued into the summer and fall months, particularly in Humboldt and Elko counties, where the largest wildfires of the season have been located.
While fighting the Conner Fire on June 20 in Douglas County, firefighter Riley Fraizer working for the Bureau of Land Management received second-degree burns to his hands, wrist, and face. Erratic winds led to increased fire activity when his engine crew was assigned to keep the fire from spreading past a mountain road. Fraizer has been unable to work for the rest of 2025 from the injuries.
On the evening of July 3, dry lightning cells that moved across Northern Nevada ignited several wildfires in the Winnemucca area, including the Bloody and Barber Fires, along with several smaller ones. All the fires grew rapidly amid favorable conditions. They prompted evacuations and threatened infrastructure in Pershing and Humboldt counties.
In early August, lightning moved through Elko County, igniting several large wildfires. The fires have been fueled by dry conditions and rugged terrain. Every BLM district in Nevada and in Twin Falls and Boise, Idaho were sent to respond. Due to limited access to the wildfires, crews are utilizing air support and bulldozers when conditions permit. The Snowstorm and Jakes Fires merged into the collective Jakes Fire on August 4.
The heavy fuel carryover lasted until the early fall months, with a regular fuel level possibly leading to wildfires until early winter, and drought conditions remained throughout the Great Basin throughout fall. Thunderstorms have been ignited most of the wildfires in the state, including a smaller batch of incidents in late September and early October.
As of October 8, about 570 wildfires this season have burned roughly, the most active season since the 2020 season.

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than, or produced significant structural damage or casualties.
NameCountyAcresStart dateContainment dateNotesRef
Burnt CanyonLincoln1,06811 6 202519 6 2025Lightning-caused. Burned about southeast of Ely.
Winnemucca MountainHumboldt2,32115 6 202518 6 2025Cause under investigation. Burned just northwest of Winnemucca.
ConnerDouglas17,71420 6 202530 6 2025Undetermined cause. Burned in the Pinenut Range about southeast of Gardnerville in the Monarch and Numbers Fire burn areas. Two residential structures and one outbuilding destroyed. Injured one firefighter.
Mount IrishLincoln6,31530 6 202517 7 2025Human-caused. Burned about northwest of Alamo.
BloodyHumboldt1,8563 7 20254 7 2025Lightning-caused. Burned just north of Winnemucca and threatening community infrastructure.
BarberPershing17,5833 7 202511 7 2025Lightning-caused. Burning south of Winnemucca and led to evacuations near Pershing/Humboldt county border and Imlay.
Sheep Creek CanyonEureka4,1744 7 20257 7 2025Undetermined cause. Burned east of Battle Mountain.
BartlettHumboldt6,1694 7 202510 7 2025Lightning-caused. Burned near Denio.
Hot CanyonElko12,7948 7 202522 7 2025Lightning-caused. Burned northwest of Montello.
GothicNye35,1616 7 202521 8 2025Lightning-caused. Burned southwest of Rachel.
CornucopiaElko3,51415 7 202518 7 2025Lightning-caused. Burned north of Tuscarora.
GoldWashoe1,26820 7 202526 7 2025Human-caused. Burned in Sparks outside of Golden Eagle Regional Park. Driven by wind and terrain.
Cat CanyonNye16,26020 7 202521 8 2025Lightning-caused. Burned northeast of Beatty in Nevada Test and Training Range.
MoonshineHumboldt2,86329 7 20252 8 2025Lightning-caused. Burned on BLM lands.
JakesElko82,2171 8 202516 8 2025Lightning-caused. Burned southwest of Midas and merged with the Snowstorm Fire.
MP 22Elko4,2301 8 20255 8 2025Lightning-caused. Burned southwest of Midas.
Adobe MountainElko10,6682 8 202511 8 2025Lightning-caused. Burned north of Elko.
RanchoWashoe1,48314 8 202520 8 2025Human-caused. Burned north of Cold Springs and prompted evacuations.
Cottonwood PeakElko132,60415 8 202521.11.2025Lightning-caused. Burned north of Tuscarora and officials asked residents in Independence Valley to prepare to evacuate.
Big ButteElko3,61224 8 202526 8 2025Unknown cause. Burned northeast of Battle Mountain.
R-14 BuffaloWashoe1,28629 8 20256 9 2025Undetermined cause. Burned west of Gerlach.
SentinelHumboldt1,2473 9 20258 9 2025Lightning-caused. Burned southwest of McDermitt.