The Associated Press
CARSON CITY, Nev. — Three rural Nevada counties ravaged by wildfires this year have been declared disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA Secretary Mike Johanns said there were sufficient agriculture production losses to warrant the designation in Elko, Humboldt and Lincoln counties.
The action came Friday at the request of Gov. Kenny Guinn, who said seven other counties would effectively be included in the designation because they are located next to the declared disaster areas.
The designation makes ranchers and farmers who meet certain criteria in the 10 counties eligible for assistance, including low-interest emergency loans, officials said.
Wildfires burned more than 1.5 million acres in Nevada this year, much of it in the northeastern part of the state. Of that, about 300,000 acres is privately owned.