Overview

• As of July 16, the lightning-sparked Gothic Fire has scorched roughly 35,000 acres of pinyon-juniper woodland and grassland in northern Nevada with zero percent containment.
• Private livestream cameras captured plumes of smoke rising from within Area 51’s secured perimeter on DoD-managed land.
• High temperatures, low humidity and abundant dry timber and grass continue to fuel the wildfire’s rapid spread over former nuclear test sites.
• A haze of wildfire smoke reached Las Vegas but fire authorities confirm no evacuations have been ordered and no structures are at risk.
• Unverified online claims linking the blaze to alien activity or government cover-ups have surged, even as officials attribute the fire solely to a July 4 lightning strike.