Crews try to contain wildfire just west of Reno

By Martin Griffith, Associated Press Writer

RENO — Firefighters reported progress in their battle against a 150-acre wildfire that had burned within 200 yards of some upscale homes Saturday along the Sierra just west of Reno.

City of Reno spokesman Chris Good said crews were hoping to contain the blaze that had threatened about 200 homes above the Juniper Ridge subdivision by 6 a.m. Sunday.

"Firefighters are cautiously optimistic," Good said, adding the fire in the Hunter Creek drainage had caused no injuries, damage to homes or evacuations.

Swirling, erratic winds had plagued crews earlier in the day. But firefighters made progress after the winds calmed down Saturday night, Good said.

The brush fire burning in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest also had threatened the Mount Rose Wilderness Area, said fire information officer Mark Struble.

Two air tankers were assisting ground crews, who planned to work through the night on the fire.

To the south, firefighters were battling a 38-acre wildfire that forced a five-hour closure of Highway 89 around Markleville, Calif., on Saturday morning.

The fire was burning brush and pinyon-juniper woodlands just northeast of Markleeville, and was 30% contained by late Saturday afternoon, Struble said.

The fire initially had threatened two homes but the structures were no longer threatened, he said.

The origins of both human-caused fires remain under investigation.

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