Verdi resident recounts Quillotine Gold Branch fire, urges Meridian 120 fire‑safety changes

During the Reno City Council public‑comment period on March 5, Verdi resident Dionne Radcliffe recounted her experience of the Quillotine Gold Branch fire of Aug. 11, 2024 and urged council and staff to pursue fire‑safety changes for nearby development plans.

Radcliffe said she first noticed smoke early that morning, was told to evacuate by police, and later learned the fire ultimately burned about 657 acres. “We can see that 80% of that acreage is the city of Reno. 20 percent's in Washoe County,” she told council members during the public‑comment period. Radcliffe said the fire started on I‑80 after a vehicle fire and spread into areas planned for development.

Radcliffe told the council she and neighbors had repeatedly raised fire concerns during the Meridian 120 project process and various public meetings, and she said she had not seen corresponding changes to tentative maps or fire‑safety conditions. “How was fire safety addressed? What changes to the tentative maps were made in these several period of years and a multitude of meetings?” she asked. “That answer's none.”

Radcliffe praised Reno fire personnel for response efforts and noted that only one home was lost in the incident, saying “thank you to all fire personnel because they did an amazing job.” She urged council to ensure that planning and infrastructure decisions reflect the hazard that residents had long warned about.

Council members and staff heard the remarks during the council’s public‑comment slot; no formal council action on the Meridian 120 project or map changes occurred at that meeting.

Ending: Radcliffe said she had attended multiple neighborhood meetings with developers and staff, and called for city planning and project approvals to reflect the fire risk neighbors had repeatedly flagged.