Nevada brush fire burns 20 homes, forces 10,000 to flee

A wind-driven fire raged through parched brush near Reno, Nevada, on Thursday, engulfing at least 20 homes and prompting residents and livestock to flee by the thousands as belching smoke and debris from the blaze forced closure of a major highway. The fire also cut short a visit to Reno, northern Nevada’s biggest city, by Vice President Joe Biden, officials said. Authorities said one person was found dead in the fire zone, but it was not immediately clear whether the individual was a victim of the blaze. No further details of the death were given, and no other fatalities or major injuries were reported.