Reno firefighters stretched thin as Davis Fire demands extra hands

RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — The Reno Fire Department called in a majority of its staff to cover day-to-day calls while many of their firefighters are battling the flames on the Davis Fire.

Reno Fire Chief Dave Cochran said 50 firefighters are on the fire line helping the many other agencies in Washoe Valley. The chief said they needed extra staff to cover the fire stations.

"We put out the word to our personnel that there's a need in the community and they stepped up. We have more than half of our people working today. And kudos to them for their response and their commitment to the community entered the department," Cochran said.

There are so many firefighters that showed up that the department didn't have enough beds at the stations so they set up cots at Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center.

That extra staff will help the department cover the 130 calls they typically see each day.

Staff covering the Davis Fire is also stretching their resources. 23 people from the Reno Fire Department are assigned to fighting fires in Wyoming, Oregon, Idaho and California. They were working those fires before the Davis Fire erupted.

"We are stretched thin because we don't normally stuff to this level. So we we pulled everybody in. They're working long days, not just on the Davis Fire, but throughout the city," Cochran said.

If another fire starts, especially a wildfire, that will tap resources even more. Chief Cochran is asking people to be extra cautious, working outside and target shooting.