Wind puts Caples Fire smoke in Carson City; relief Thursday

Wind increased burning on the Caples Fire on Wednesday and pushed smoke into the Carson City area.

Carson City had moderate air pollution on Wednesday afternoon.

The U.S. Forest Service reported winds blowing towards the northeast stoked burning in the interior of the fire burning in the El Dorado National Forest on Wednesday.

The good news is that snow and rain and forecast in the fire area Thursday between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., greatly reducing smoke, the Forest Service said. The winds are expected to be more from the west, which push any smoke more towards the Pine Nut Mountains, the National Weather Service said.

The Caples Fire started Sept. 30 as a controlled burn in the El Dorado National Forest. When red flag conditions were forecast, fire crews built fire lines and built backfires, which held until the winds shifted Oct. 17, and it burned outside the prescribed burn and became a wildfire. It is west of the Kirkwood area.

The fire was reported Wednesday afternoon to be 3,200 acres and 53 percent contained. It is expected to be fully contained by midnight on Friday.