McConnell
active fire 
wildfire Updated
Environment
Right Now
| TODAY | SEP 2 | SEP 3 | SEP 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | 63° 61° |  68° 51° |  62° 52° | 68° 46° |
| Area Fire Potential | TODAY Moderate SEP 2 Low SEP 3 Low SEP 4 Low | |||
| Area Fuels | Short Grass (1 foot) | |||
Response
LEAD AGENCY
Bureau of Land ManagementRESPONSE LEVEL
Type 2
Details
INCIDENT DETAILS
FIRE BEHAVIOR
Active
NEAREST CITY
—
DESCRIPTION
3 Miles E from Orovada, NVInciweb Media
Recent media provided by InciWeb of Nevada fire activity.
McConnell Fire Report — September 1, 2026
Level 2 evacuations remain in place as crews secure western perimeter
The McConnell Fire is burning in rugged terrain near Santa Rosa Peak and the McConnell Creek drainage east of Orovada and Paradise Valley. Over the last 72 hours, firefighters fully secured the western perimeter while fire activity persisted along the steep northern and eastern slopes. Evacuation warnings and structure defense measures remain active for nearby mountain cabins and valley communities.
Evacuations and Closures
- Level 2 'Set' evacuation warnings remain in effect for areas of Orovada east of US Highway 95 and the Hinkey Summit area, including local cabins and campgrounds (issued August 31).
- Level 1 'Ready' evacuation notices are active for surrounding zones in Orovada and Paradise Valley (issued August 31).
- Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest emergency closure prohibits entry to all National Forest lands, roads, and trails east of Hinkey Summit Road in the Santa Rosa Ranger District (issued August 29).
- Public access to Hinkey Summit Road and Cottonwood Road remains closed (issued August 29).
- Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in effect across the Santa Rosa Ranger District and regional public lands (as of September 1).
Impact
Active burning in the McConnell Creek and Rebel Creek drainages continues to send visible smoke over Orovada and Paradise Valley. Sprinkler protection systems have been deployed around cabins in Cottonwood Canyon, with no structural losses or injuries reported.
Conditions and Outlook
Southwest winds will strengthen through midweek before easing toward the weekend, accompanied by cooler conditions and gradually improving humidity. Firefighters plan to build direct and indirect containment lines along the northern and eastern perimeters ahead of incoming winds. In the rugged southern terrain, crews are establishing remote spike camps and indirect lines to secure containment depth.
Cause and Context
The fire was ignited naturally by lightning on August 25. Command is managed by Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 6, with support from regional and international firefighting personnel.
Resources
- McConnell Fire InciWeb Incident Page
- Humboldt County Evacuation Perimeter Map
- Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Closure Alerts
Official updates current through September 1, 2026.
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