LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nevada's largest wildfire has grown to 82,195 acres in Elko County after joining with another fire on Thursday, according to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The Jakes Fire merged with the smaller MP 22 fire, the second fire that it has combined with since a group of fires near the town of Midas were ignited by lightning strikes on Aug. 1. Earlier, the Jakes Fire swallowed the Snowstorm Fire as it moved to the north.

More than 550 people are currently assigned to the firefighting effort, which has achieved 35% containment of the Jakes Fire.

The fire is burning grass and brush on BLM land. Elevated fire conditions were expected to persist on Friday as wind gusts of up to 30 mph pushed the fire on uphill runs.

Air tankers were making drops to prevent the fire from

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