David Jacobs, and Emerson Marcus

RGJ

12:43 p.m. update: The Evans Fire has now burned 700 acres, up 300 acres from fire reports this morning, Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch said.

Seven air tankers and helicopters are fighting the fire's progression south and west from its origin in Balls Canyon north of Reno in California, just west of U.S. 395, Sierra Front said. The north and east flanks have been secured, Sierra Front said.

The fire is now 20 percent contained, up from 15 percent containment this morning, a Sierra Front report filed at 12:20 p.m. said.

10:28 a.m. update: Containment remains 15 percent without reported increase in acreage for the Evans Fire, which has burned 400 acres north of Reno, Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch said.

Firefighters are battling the blaze primarily on the south and west flanks, across the California line, west of U.S. 395 in Balls Canyon. The north and east flanks have been secured, Sierra Front said.

Three air tankers and two helicopters are battling the fire's progression this morning, Sierra Front said.

9:00 a.m. update: The Evans Fire has burned 400 acres and is at 15 percent containment, the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch center said this morning.

The fire started after lightning at about 6 p.m. Tuesday in Balls Canyon California near the Nevada border just west of U.S. 395.

Large plumes of smoke could be seen over western Nevada, including Reno.

The fire is on U.S. Forest Service land.

Assisting agencies include firefighters from Washoe and Plumas counties, along with the Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Division of Forestry.

No structures are threatened at this time, Sierra Front said in a report released on its website at 8:05 a.m. today.

Resources include three air tankers, two helicopters, three fire engines, three hand crews and 100 personnel.

Crews are constructing fire lines along both flanks of the fire and additional resources are being ordered, Sierra Front said in the morning report.

The fire is burning brush and grass in the canyon.

10:40 p.m. Tuesday update

Crews continue efforts to contain wildfire. Sierra Front plans further update Wednesday morning on firefighters' progress.

9:36 p.m. Tuesday update:

The fire has grown to 350 acres with 10 percent containment.

9:21 p.m. Tuesday update:

Lightning sparked a brush fire north of Reno on Tuesday evening, charring at least 200 acres near the Nevada-California line west of U.S. 395.

The Evans Fire was burning two to three miles off the highway on federal land north of Bordertown, according to early reports.

Grass and brush burned in the remote area west of the highway.

Plumes of smoke could be seen miles away, including in the Reno area.

No evacuations had been ordered, and no homes or businesses were threatened. The fire stood at 10 percent contained by about 8:50 p.m.

"Crews are actively engaged, constructing line along both flanks of the fire," Sierra Front said in a statement.

At least 80 firefighters were at the scene from the U.S. Forest Service, Nevada Division of Forestry, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the Truckee Meadows Fire Department.

They were assisted by three air tankers, two helicopters, three engines and two hand crews, Sierra Front fire responders reported.

The fire was reported about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. Lightning sparked the blaze, Sierra Front said.

Rain moving through the area Tuesday afternoon had not reached the area of the flames by the time the first firefighters had arrived at the scene.

– RGJ photojournalist Marilyn Newton contributed to this story.