JIM WHEELER LEGISLATIVE BUILDING:

ASSEMBLYMAN
401 South Carson Street
District No. 39
Carson City, Nevada 89701-4747
Office: (775) 684-8843
Fax No.: (775) 684-8533
Email: Jim.Wheeler@asm.state.nv.us
www.leg.state.nv.us

DISTRICT OFFICE:
P.O. Box 2135
Minden, Nevada 89423-2135
Cell: (775) 546-3471 State of Nevada
Assembly
July 22, 2021
Attorney General Aaron Ford
State of Nevada, Attorney General’s Office
adford@ag.nv.gov

Dear Attorney General Ford,

As you are undoubtedly aware, there is a large and uncontrolled fire burning its way into
Nevada on the southwestern border of Douglas County. This fire was originally the result of a lightning
strike that happened on July 4, 2021 in the Toiyabe National Forest on the California side of the border.
It was discovered by the US Forest Service (USFS) that same day and was estimated to be a quarter acre
in size. A decision was made at that time to let the fire burn itself out. Well, we now know the result of
that decision, as the fire has grown to over 50,000 acres and as of this writing, is 0% contained. At last
estimate, over 1,200 firefighters from USFS, CalFire and Nevada agencies are currently dispatched to
fight this threat. This all would be completely unnecessary if even one water dropping plane had been
dispatched on the first day, or even within the first few days.

I am requesting that the Nevada Attorney General’s Office conduct an investigation into the
decisions and policies originally taken by the USFS and any other agency involved in those decisions in
order to obtain the information necessary to make sure something like this never happens again. If that
investigation produces results that show another course of action could have been taken, I am
requesting that your office file a lawsuit against the offending agency or agencies. The loss of revenue
from tourism; health issues in the affected areas at a time when we are fighting respiratory diseases tied
to COVID; expenditures by Nevada agencies; and possible property losses which will result from this fire
are actionable offenses that the State of Nevada – through the Nevada Attorney General’s Office –
should consider when taking legal action to compensate our citizens for their losses.

Please let me know of your decision,

Sincerely,

Jim Wheeler
Jim Wheeler,
Assemblyman, District 39