Reno, Nevada Raging Wildfire Burns Homes
Pastor Dale Morgan
Reno, Nevada Raging Wildfire Burns Homes*
Sunday March 18, 2007 4:16 AM
RENO, Nev. (AP) - An early season wildfire in Reno burned at least two
homes and temporarily shut down Interstate 80's westbound lanes,
officials said.
An undetermined number of people were evacuated from homes and
businesses after the brush fire broke out at Saturday afternoon.
The fast-moving fire burned near a shopping center, the Reno
Gazette-Journal reported.
No injuries were reported.
The extent of damage to the homes could not be immediately confirmed by
officials, but KOLO-TV in Reno reported one home was destroyed and
others were severely damaged.
The flames were fanned by wind gusts of up to 20 mph and another day of
unseasonably warm weather. Saturday's high of 78 tied Reno's record high
for the date set in 1972.
I-80's westbound lanes and two city streets were closed for about an
hour as flames approached it, police said.
An evacuation center was set up at the Grace Warner Elementary School,
said school secretary Teri Rothschild.
``They're making progress on the fire. The smoke is not as bad,'' she
said Saturday evening. ``The people still are not allowed to go back to
their homes, though.''
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
About 100 firefighters were battling the blaze, which also burned fences
and outbuildings.
The fire came after a week of unseasonably high temperatures in Reno.