Homes burn as high winds fuel blaze near Reno

High winds cause a brush fire to spread quickly south of Reno, Nevada, destroying at least 10 homes. Msnbc.com's Al Stirrett reports.

By NBC News, msnbc.com staff and news services

Updated 10:25 p.m. ET: More than 10,000 people have been evacuated as a wind-driven wildfire burns out of control near Reno, The Associated Press reports. Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez said hundreds of firefighters were "in the thick of battle" against a blaze that has burned across thousands of acres.

Gov. Brian Sandoval has declared a state of emergency.

See more coverage at NBC station KRNV

At a press conference Thursday afternoon, fire officials said that?the brush fire began around noon just north of Washoe Lake and that the cause was under investigation. They said they were unsure how many homes had been burned. Earlier, NBC station KRNV reported that at least 10 homes had been lost.

Original post: RENO, Nev. -- Fierce winds fueled a fast-moving brush fire through a valley south of Reno on Thursday, destroying at least 10 homes and threatening many more along a stretch of U.S.?395.?

At least 10 homes burned in the Washoe Area Estates?neighborhood, NBC station KRNV of Reno reported. Washoe County declared a state of emergency.

Heavy smoke forced authorities to shutdown?a five-mile stretch of the highway north of Washoe Lake in Pleasant Valley, about 10 miles from Reno, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.

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Authorities evacuated hundreds of children from Pleasant Valley Elementary School and residents of neighboring Washoe City.

Sheriff's deputies told the?Reno newspaper?winds?were pushing flames closer to Reno, where voluntary evacuations were issued in several neighborhoods.

Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Reno -- already delayed because of bad weather?-- was cut short because of the fire.?Biden was two hours late to give a speech to students?at Galena High School. The vice president was forced to end his speech?after 25 minutes because officials needed the high school gym as a command center for firefighters.

Winds in the area were gusting over?50 mph, The Weather Channel reported, but were expected to moderate on Friday to about 20 mph, with gusts to about 30 mph.

Winds gusts?up to 82 mph were reported within a few miles of the fire, and a gust of 122 mph was recorded atop Slide Mountain, which is between the fire and Reno at the Mount Rose ski resort.

Rounding up horses
Flames up to 40 feet high raced through sagebrush, grass and pines in an area where small neighborhoods are dispersed in a rural landscape. Washoe County animal services officials were helping round up horses and other livestock for evacuation.

NBC News

A large home is destroyed by flames near Reno on Thursday.

About six flights?were diverted, delayed or canceled at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport as a reult of heavy black smokein Washoe Valley, said spokesman Brian Kulpin.

The conditions were similar to those Nov. 18, when a wind-driven fire destroyed 30 homes in southwest Reno.

This post includes reporting from NBC station KRNV of Reno, msnbc.com staff and?The Associated Press.?

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Source: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/19/10193877-homes-burn-as-high-winds-fuel-blaze-near-reno

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