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Thousands flee as fire destroys homes
Source: Agencies |
November 21, 2011, Monday
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THE number of homes destroyed in a wildfire in Reno, has reached at least 32, but the US State of Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval said it is a miracle scores more were not lost.
A re-evaluation of the 800-hectare zone of destruction on Saturday found much more damage than initially reported, Reno Fire Chief Mike Hernandez said.
The out-of-season blaze spread by gale-force winds ripped through the Sierra foothills early Friday, forcing the evacuation of nearly 10,000 people. Most started returning to their homes on Saturday afternoon.
Hernandez said many families "had to leave in the middle of the night with very, very limited possessions and they are coming back to devastation, to nothing."
The governor said after a helicopter tour of the area on Saturday that while the loss of homes was tragic, the 400 firefighters are heroes for saving more than 4,000 houses. Investigators suspect the fire was started by arcing power lines.
"When you see something like that, you cannot help but be struck by the awesome and random power of nature," Sandoval said about the path of the fire, that snaked along the edge of the foothills, sometimes burning one home to the ground while neighboring houses were untouched.
"It is nothing short of a miracle the amount of homes that have been saved," he said. "We are right around the corner from Thanksgiving and I think we in this community have a lot to be thankful for."
Reno Mayor Bob Cashell praised the firefighters for a quick response and thanked the numerous communities for dispatching crews and engines to help.
The fire was 80 percent contained by Saturday and should be mopped up fully by the middle of next week, according to fire officials.
A re-evaluation of the 800-hectare zone of destruction on Saturday found much more damage than initially reported, Reno Fire Chief Mike Hernandez said.
The out-of-season blaze spread by gale-force winds ripped through the Sierra foothills early Friday, forcing the evacuation of nearly 10,000 people. Most started returning to their homes on Saturday afternoon.
Hernandez said many families "had to leave in the middle of the night with very, very limited possessions and they are coming back to devastation, to nothing."
The governor said after a helicopter tour of the area on Saturday that while the loss of homes was tragic, the 400 firefighters are heroes for saving more than 4,000 houses. Investigators suspect the fire was started by arcing power lines.
"When you see something like that, you cannot help but be struck by the awesome and random power of nature," Sandoval said about the path of the fire, that snaked along the edge of the foothills, sometimes burning one home to the ground while neighboring houses were untouched.
"It is nothing short of a miracle the amount of homes that have been saved," he said. "We are right around the corner from Thanksgiving and I think we in this community have a lot to be thankful for."
Reno Mayor Bob Cashell praised the firefighters for a quick response and thanked the numerous communities for dispatching crews and engines to help.
The fire was 80 percent contained by Saturday and should be mopped up fully by the middle of next week, according to fire officials.
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