The Associated Press
COLEVILLE, Calif. — A wildfire fanned by high wind on the eastern front of the Sierra Nevada led to the evacuation of homes and two schools Tuesday and closed a 40-mile section of highway spanning the California state line.
The blaze had charred an estimated 500 acres and threatened up to 250 buildings, said Mark Struble, a spokesman for the Sierra Front Interagency Fire Dispatch Center.
Authorities evacuated the grade school and the high school in Coleville, about 8 miles south of the Nevada state line, and started evacuating residential areas.
The California Highway Patrol closed U.S. Highway 395 from Bridgeport to Holbrook Junction in Nevada.
Air tankers and helicopters were temporary grounded because of the wind gusting to 33 mph, Struble said.
The fire was started by lightning Friday and smoldered until it was stoked by the wind.
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On the Net:
Sierra Front Dispatch Center: http://www.sierrafront.net/