RENO, NEVADA, FIREFIGHTERS ARE BATTLING A FAST-GROWING BRUSH FIRE that has already consumed more than 1,200 acres.  The problem has been magnified by extremely high winds that were blamed as the cause of the fire.

It is believed that the persistent, high wind that was blowing yesterday brought down a power line which ignited the brush fire.  The winds have been clocked at a sustained 40 mph with gusts up to 68 mph.

The fire has threatened several houses and a school building.  Early this morning the 350 firefighters on the scene had a 50% containment on the fire.  Five firefighters have been transported and about a dozen more were treated on the scene for eye injuries caused by the high winds blowing dirt and cinders in their eyes.  “The crews are having a hard time holding onto even their gear. Their hard hats are blowing around. Sage brush is blowing into them. It’s pretty intense up there,” Forest Service spokesman Franklin Pemberton said. 

Nevada Appeal/Cathleen Allison photo

The Associated Press is reporting that the fire started at about 2 p.m. and burned up to U.S. Highway 395, forcing a five-mile stretch of the road to be closed for nearly two hours during rush hour. It was reopened about 5:30 p.m. as a shift in the wind started to push the flames more to the east, away from the highway and populated areas.

As many as 10 area fire agencies were assisting, but local volunteer fire stations were taken off alert shortly after 7:30 p.m. as the threat to homes subsided.

Earlier in the day, thick smoke blanketed the valley and could be seen 30 miles away. The high winds grounded aerial firefighting equipment but authorities were hopeful of getting some planes in the air Wednesday morning.  The Weather Service is forecasting lighter winds today at around 15 mph.

The Carson City Nevada Appeal has MORE.

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