Officials Say 32 Homes Destroyed in Reno Fire

    Nov. 20, 2011
    RENO, Nev. -- The estimated number of homes destroyed in a wind-fueled wildfire has more than doubled to a total of 32, but Gov. Brian Sandoval says it's a miracle scores more weren't lost. Reno Fire Chief Mike Hernandez said a re-evaluation of the 2,000-acre burn on Saturday found much more destruction and damage than initially reported.

    Source Associated Press

    A Reno firefighter tries to save an outbuilding as a house burns in a 400-acre brush fire in south Reno, Nev., on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011.
    A Reno firefighter tries to save an outbuilding as a house burns in a 400-acre brush fire in south Reno, Nev., on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011.

    RENO, Nev. --

    The estimated number of homes destroyed in a wind-fueled wildfire has more than doubled to a total of 32, but Gov. Brian Sandoval says it's a miracle scores more weren't lost.

    Reno Fire Chief Mike Hernandez said a re-evaluation of the 2,000-acre burn on Saturday found much more destruction and damage than initially reported.

    The blaze spread by gale-force winds and ripped through the Sierra foothills early Friday, forcing the evacuation of nearly 10,000 people. Most started returning to their homes Saturday afternoon.

    The governor said after a helicopter tour of the area that while the loss of homes was a tragedy, the 400 firefighters on the lines are heroes for saving more than 4,000 houses that could have burned.

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