Wildfires

Wildfires - Nevada, USA

A wind-whipped wildfire raged out of control Friday in northern Nevada, destroying more than a dozen homes, forcing evacuations, closing roads and schools, and triggering power outages, officials said.

A state of emergency was declared as the Little Valley Fire burned between Reno and Carson City. Nevada Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Gail Powell said an estimated 18 homes had been lost in Washoe Valley.

More than 300 firefighters were battling the blaze that has charred about 3 square miles of brush and timber. Winds gusting in excess of 70 mph along the Sierra Nevada’s eastern front were keeping air tankers and helicopters on the ground.