Friday, July 4, 2014 | 5:49 p.m.
RENO — Fire officials say a wildfire is threatening several ranches and critical sage grouse habitat in northwest Nevada near the Oregon border.
The fire, sparked by lightning Tuesday, has charred 14.5 square miles of remote rangeland managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. It's burning about 25 miles northeast of Fort Bidwell, California, and 3 miles south of the Oregon line.
More than 325 firefighters have been hampered by windy, hot weather in their battle against the blaze, which has burned grass, sagebrush and juniper woodlands.
Officials said Friday the fire has moved within about a mile of some ranch structures and crews are ready to protect them in the event flames approach them.
They say the fire was 15 percent contained, and they expect full containment Wednesday.
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