``We've asked for some additional resources, including air support, and it could be arriving today,'' said Robbie McAboy, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman for the Robber's Fire burning about 35 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
The 1,500-acre blaze was sparked Monday by a truck crash on a steep mountain road between wooded canyons in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
McAboy said It was designated the nation's top priority because of the rugged terrain and its location less than a mile and a half from one small enclave of about 15 homes and less than three miles from a larger community of about 350 expensive homes.
The fire did not advance overnight and remained 20 percent contained. No structures were threatened and no new evacuations were ordered.
Three minor injuries were reported among the 449 firefighters directed by one of 16 elite national interagency fire management teams.
Favorable breezes Tuesday and the efforts of newly arrived firefighters from California, Utah, Idaho and other western states helped steer the fire away from the Kyle Canyon community and its only access road.
An aerial assault included three helicopters, a single-engine plane and two firefighting tankers hauling fire retardant from Cedar City, Utah, a 35-minute flight away.
``There's a collective sign of relief,'' said Scott Dinger, 39, a North Las Vegas police officer who hiked from his canyon home to a nearby ridge to watch the firefighting.
``It's actually two ridges away,'' he said. ``Even though it's real dry here, as of last night, the word containment was being thrown around.''
Dinger said he and his wife attended a community meeting with about 70 residents and fire officials late Tuesday and were assured that homes and the drought-dry pinyon, juniper, sagebrush and pine forest in the surrounding Spring Mountains National Recreation Area were well protected.
``Barring a huge wind and a bad turn of events, I think they've got it,'' Dinger said. ``Either way, we're prepared.''
A mountaintop Girl Scout camp and a youth correctional facility were evacuated Monday and homeowners were ordered out of about 15 homes in the Deer Creek subdivision closer to the fire lines. About half the 900 residents of Kyle Canyon left voluntarily, authorities said.
Fire officials said it could be a week or more before the fire can be fully contained and extinguished. The cost of fighting the blaze on federal land was projected at $1.5 million.
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