Fire outside forces thousands to flee Reno
Wind stoked a fire that broke out early Friday chased thousands of people from their homes on the outskirts of Reno, as orange flames licked the sky and munching on 2,000 acres of land in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

Caughlin fire destroyed or damaged 25 homes, 60 miles / h gusts scattered coals and flooded the house with smoke. 74-year-old man ran home, died of a heart attack, officials say, as well as more than a dozen people were treated for cardiac and respiratory problems.

Firefighter suffered first and second degree burns was hospitalized.

"People are in shock," said Governor Brian Sandoval of Nevada, who declared a state of emergency. "People woke up last night in the middle of the night with their house full of smoke, suddenly come to their deck, [and] see the flames a few feet."

By noon, fire officials said they stopped the fire spreading, potentially sparing thousands of homes and clearing the way for almost 10 thousand evacuees to return on Saturday.

Cause of the fire, which broke out just after midnight, is under investigation. Fierce, erratic winds - which have already downed power lines and knocked over trees - fanned the fire and the sound of helicopters.

More than 400 firefighters strained to stay in front of towering flames visible from the casino city of Reno.

"We had fire crews mess with each other," Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez said at a news conference. "It was very dynamic, fast-moving event."

As the flame barrel toward populated areas, the authorities knocking on doors to wake people in the way of fire and urge them to leave.

Steve Schroeder, who lives in the Rancho Caughlin, woke up, looked out the window and saw an orange glow.

"The fire climbed the mountain to the rear of the house across the street from me," he said Reno Gazette-Journal. "Within five minutes, the wind changed and there was a spark falls from the air side of the house and into my driveway. I said, 'Wow, we had better leave. "

By dawn, the officials were closed dozens of schools. Thousands of people were without power, and a handful were left without gas. But firefighters quickly gained the upper hand in the flame.

When night fell, the winds died down, the snow is expected, the dust in the region and snuff out hot spots.