Gold Ranch Fire Forces Evacuations in Nevada

Dramatic video captured firefighters battling to put out the Gold Ranch Fire. The Gold Ranch Fire was ignited on Sunday, near Verdi, Nevada.

The blaze scorched at least 674 acres, temporarily closing eastbound Interstate 80 at Highway 267, according to local reports.

All evacuation orders and warnings for the Gold Ranch Fire have been lifted. Nevada State Police say they arrested a driver on DUI charges in connection with the fire.

Hundreds of people were allowed to return home  after being forced to flee a wildfire west of Reno that also shut down Interstate 80 along the California-Nevada line.

About 170 firefighters continued to work to secure the perimeter and snuff out hot spots near Verdi, a town 17 kilometers from downtown Reno. One home was destroyed by the fire that broke out Sunday evening and quickly burned through about 2.5 square kilometers of brush and timber.

No one was seriously injured. The Nevada state fire marshal is continuing to investigate the cause of the fire that started near the Gold Ranch exit of I-80 along the Truckee River about 3.2 km from the California line and 21 km west of Reno.

Evacuation orders or warnings were issued for about 400 homes threatened by the flames.

As many as 27,000 Nevada Energy customers didn't have power at one point Sunday night after the utility shut off electricity as a precaution. But it had been restored to all but about a dozen.

The fire was 8% contained, according to the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District. But aerial photos showed no active flames or significant smoke.

More than 300 firefighters who worked through were able to secure the fire lines and will continue to conduct mop-up operations, the federal interagency fire team led by Commander Brad Milam said in a statement.