RENO, Nev. — With the response to the Bug and Stallion fires now coming to a close, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam released a statement Monday afternoon.
In his statement, he acknowledged that while many evacuees are expected to return to normalcy, Balaam also acknowledges that some families are returning to damaged or destroyed property and face a longer recovery.
Balaam also noted that a life was “tragically lost during these fires,” adding, “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this loss.”
In the statement, Balaam thanked the firefighters, air crews and incident management personnel who worked during the response, citing Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and the Bureau of Land Management – Nevada for leading and supporting what he described as an immense firefighting effort alongside local, state and federal partners.
He also praised the work of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, saying deputies and staff worked long hours assisting with evacuations and repopulation efforts, securing evacuated neighborhoods, staffing road closures and helping residents through rapidly changing conditions.
Balaam thanked law enforcement partners, including Nevada State Police, the Nevada National Guard, the Reno Police Department, Sparks Police, University Police Department Northern Command and Washoe County School District Police, saying their support helped ensure broader public safety needs continued to be met during the extended response…