Wind-whipped wildfire near Reno prompts evacuations but rain begins falling as crews arrive

RENO, Nev. — Authorities in Nevada ordered the evacuation of hundreds of homes southwest of Reno and closed the main road to Lake Tahoe after a wind-swept wildfire broke out Monday and spread quickly through vegetation on mountain slopes.

About 3,000 people were told to leave, but rain began to fall as local, state and federal crews arrived to battle the 40.5-acre blaze dubbed the Callahan Fire, Truckee spokesman Adam Mayberry said. Meadows Fire Protection District.

No structures were damaged during the first hours of the fire, Mayberry said, and no injuries were reported.

“The wind is very gusty today,” Mayberry told The Associated Press, noting that firefighting aircraft remained on the ground due to windy weather. “But it’s raining, so that might help.”

Out of safety concerns, utility company NV Energy said it had turned off electricity to about 5,500 customers in an area roughly between Montreux Golf Course, Galena High School and Mount Rose Highway.

Mayberry said the fire was reported just after 10 a.m. and said the cause was not immediately known but would be investigated. He said it was on or near an area charred by a 14-square-mile wildfire that burned for about a week in September.

Gov. Joe Lombardo of Nevada said on social media that his office and the Nevada Division of Emergency Management were “fully assessing and combating” the fire.