Elko County Fire Chief Matt Peterson briefed the commission on the current fire season, reporting 89 wildland fires this year that together burned about 248,000 acres. Peterson said the county has focused surge and mutual-aid resources on large incidents and credited local coordination with BLM, the U.S. Forest Service and state agencies for helping limit the percentage of initial attacks that turn into large fires.

Peterson described the Cottonwood Peak fire as a severe incident that grew rapidly — "Cottonwood grew 80,000 acres in two days," he said — and praised local, state and federal partners and volunteer departments for surge response and structure-protection work. He said the county aggressively used available mutual-aid resources for initial attack and structure protection.

Both Peterson and several commissioners highlighted Elko County’s rancher liaison program as a key local innovation. Peterson described the program as long-standing and said local ranchers provide operational knowledge about access, historical fire behavior and private infrastructure that incident commanders use while planning tactics. Peterson said other jurisdictions have tried to replicate the model but that it is particularly effective in Elko County because of established local relationships.

Scott Lucas, the county’s manager for emergency management and wildfire mitigation, outlined grant and construction activity supporting volunteer fire stations. He said the county is in round three of infrastructure-tax grants for volunteer departments and that projects completed to date include new or rebuilt stations in Osino and Deeth, with North Fork previously awarded and Ruby Valley under construction. He told commissioners there is currently about $500,000 available to award this year and that returning allocations could raise the total available toward $1 million.

The commission approved a motion to authorize the fire district to solicit applications for the current grant round and discussed touring newly completed stations during upcoming meetings. Commissioners commended the interoperability and rapid adjustments made during the Cottonwood Peak response and urged continued collaboration with ranchers and neighboring agencies.

Peterson closed by reminding residents that cooler weather does not end the fire season and that Elko County remains in elevated risk until significant, sustained rain reduces fuel danger.