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This week as I prepare for rain and snow in the Sierra (remember, I forecasted we'd get a few significant winter snowstorms in), thoughts of baking and cooking aren't on my mind. Instead, memories ...

RENO, Nev (AP) - Firefighters worked to hold the line Friday on a fast-moving brush fire that tore through the Reno area, destroying at least 20 houses and forcing thousands of residents to flee.Th...

UPDATE: 5 p.m.Washoe County Manager Katy Simon has declared an official emergency for Washoe County as the wildfire burns in the northern Washoe Valley area, officials announced in a press release....

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Heavenly Foundation athletes traveled to their first races of the season this past weekend. Far West athletes raced slalom at Sugar Bowl, while those competing in the Tahoe League Series, raced ...

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Sarah Burke was an X Games star with a grass-roots mentality - a daredevil superpipe skier who understood the risks inherent to her sport and the debt she owed to it.The p...

Canadian freeskier Sarah Burke died Thursday in a Salt Lake City hospital, nine days after crashing at the bottom of the superpipe during a training run in Utah. Burke, who lived near Whistler in British Columbia, was 29. She was injured Jan. 10 while training at a personal sponsor event at the Park City Mountain resort.
Tests revealed Burke suffered "irreversible damage to her brain due to lack of oxygen and blood after cardiac arrest," according to a statement released by Burke's publicist, Nicole Wool.

A house fire that started in a box in back of a fireplace and spread into the attic of a Cold Creek Trail home was knocked down Thursday night. No one was hurt in the blaze, which was largely confined to the attic and ceiling, said Lake Valley Fire Protection District Chief Gareth Harris.
The house, located at 2497 Cold Creek Trail is not habitable but still standing. The fire was reported at around 7 p.m. Estimated damage to the home is between $75,000 to $100,000, Harris said.

The Nevada Highway Patrol advises Highway 395 through Washoe Valley, from SR 431 Mount Rose to Carson City will remain closed through Friday and possibly Saturday. Motorists should find alternative routes to Carson City as agencies continue to work on the fire.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A federal court judge dismissed a Lake Tahoe environmental group's lawsuit against the City of South Lake Tahoe on Thursday.Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. signed an order g...

KIRKWOOD, Calif. (TDT) - Despite a great deal of snow dancing, and car washing, the South Tahoe High Nordic ski team has spent nearly two months dry land training. Practices have included a great d...

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (TDT) - In the seven years the Tahoe Grizzlies youth hockey organization has been hosting the Tahoe Invitational, its teams have never won a championship game. On Monday...

A singer with one of the most recognizable voices in music will perform Saturday in the MontBleu Theatre. Three-time Grammy winner Lucinda Williams, who sings country, folk and blues, will perfo...

Young the Giant just had a big year.The alternative rockers in 2011 played 180 shows, made three national television appearances and released an album which reached No. 2 on the U.S. Heat chart ...

View Washoe Drive Fire (1/19/2012) in a larger map

UPDATE 10PM: Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez said tonight the Washoe Drive Fire has consumed and estimated 3,700 acres, burned at least 20 structures and has resulted in one fatality.
Hernandez would not go into details of how the person died. He said the 250+ firefighters on the scene have stopped the forward progress of the fire. He said the fire started in the East Lake area, and then followed the Highway 395 corridor north, where it was stopped just south of Galena High School.
Highway 395 will be closed until further notice due to damage to debris and damage to guard rails, power poles and other item near the roadway. Gov. Brian Sandoval told state workers who commute by this route to stay home Friday. Evacuations have been lifted for the Galena area. About 2,000 people are still unable to go back to their homes tonight.
Hernandez said firefighters saved more than 800 homes that were in the path of this destructive fire.
The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
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UPDATE 9PM: Reno Fire officials report forward progress on Washoe Drive fire has stopped. Fire behavior is moderating due to diminishing winds, lowering termperatures and increasing humidity/moisture moving over the Sierra Nevada/Carson Range. Fire burns more than 3,000 acres with zero containment; 10,000 evacuated; no count on home and structure losses.

U.S. Highway-395 remains closed between 1.8 miles north of Carson City to the Junction of SR 341/431 (Mt. Rose Junction) in south Reno. U.S. Highway 395 could remained closed on Friday (1/20) through the morning commute - make alternate plans.
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At 4:40 pm Thursday, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, under his constitutional and statutory authority, made a state declaration of emergency which qualifies local governments for federal assistance associated with this event. The National Guard is on standby at the request of Sandoval and Washoe County. California has also provided fire assistance as part of a Governor to Governor agreement with Jerry Brown.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been and are being affected by this fire,” Sandoval said. “Declaring a state of emergency ensures that every resource from the local, state and federal level is available to assist. The Nevada Division of Forestry and the Department of Public Safety have also engaged with local responders.”
Additionally, Nevada has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). As a result, Nevada is eligible for up to 75 percent funding assistance for eligible costs. The request was made by the Nevada Division of Forestry on behalf of Washoe County at the onset of the fire.

More below the fold.

Highway 395 through Washoe Valley is currently closed as a wildfire burns. Motorists are advised to cancel travel plans.Fire crews are responding to a large brush fire south of Reno that already ha...