RENO, NEVADA (BNO NEWS) — Firefighters on early Saturday morning contained a large wildfire in the U.S. state of Nevada, officials said. The blaze destroyed 29 homes and burned nearly 3,200 acres (1,300 hectares) in two days.

The fire broke out at around 1 p.m. local time on Thursday when an elderly man improperly discarded fireplace ashes at his home on the northern end of Washoe Valley, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of downtown Reno.

The fire, fueled by heavy fuels and high winds, forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 people in the old Washoe City area, Pleasant Valley, and Saint James Village areas. Washoe County Manager Katy Simon declared a state of emergency within hours, followed later that day by a state declaration of emergency by Governor Brian Sandoval.

Sierra Fire Protection District spokesman Mark Regan said the fire was 100 percent contained by 6 a.m. local time on Saturday. “All evacuations were lifted as of 8 a.m. this morning,” he said. “The Sierra Front Incident Management Team will transition the Washoe Fire over to Reno Fire Department at 3:00pm today.”

Nancy Leuenhagen, a spokeswoman for the Washoe County manager’s office, said the wildfire had burned a total of 3,177 acres (1,285 hectares) and destroyed 29 homes. “The emergency boil water notice that was in effect for Sunrise Estates has been lifted,” she said.

Earlier, emergency crews recovered the body of 93-year-old June Hargis, who had been warned about the fire but did not evacuate in time. She is believed to have died from smoke inhalation, but an autopsy is being conducted to officially determine whether she died as a result of the fire.

Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez earlier said that an elderly man had come forward and admitted to causing the fire when he threw out ashes in a utility trailer in the area. It was not immediately clear if the man, described as being ‘extremely remorseful’, would face criminal charges.

On Friday, local authorities already estimated that the response cost had reached more than $690,000. Officials expect the damages will reach millions of dollars once a full assessment has been carried out.

In November 2011, more than 30 homes were destroyed when a wildfire broke out near Reno, forcing nearly 10,000 people to evacuate the area. The fire burned some 2,000 acres (810 hectares) and injured one firefighter. One man died of a heart attack while evacuating.

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (BNO NEWS) — Five people were killed on late Wednesday afternoon when a tour helicopter crashed near the Lake Mead reservoir in Nevada, federal officials said on early Thursday. There were no survivors.

The Eurocopter AS350 helicopter, which was manufactured in 1989, went down at around 4.45 p.m. local time near the Callville Bay Resort & Marina, about 12 miles (19.3 kilometers) east of McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.

Sundance Helicopters, which operates helicopter services in the Southwestern United States, confirmed that one of its aircraft had crashed while on a sightseeing tour. “Emergency personnel on the scene reported that there were no survivors,” the company said in a statement. “Names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.”

According to police, the fatalities include four tourist passengers and the pilot of the aircraft. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Ian Gregor said the aircraft was on an air tour flight from McCarran International Airport to the Hoover Dam and back.

Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the cause of the accident.

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RENO, NEVADA (BNO NEWS) — A wildfire which broke out near Reno in Nevada this week has destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate, officials said. The fire was more than 80 percent contained as of Sunday.

The fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday and quickly spread, becoming a three-alarm fire within hours and threatening thousands of homes in the city of Reno. The fire had burned some 2,000 acres (810 hectares) as of late Saturday, and officials said the blaze is now 80 percent contained.

Reno Fire Chief Hernandez said at least 32 homes have been destroyed in the fire, while at least five others have been damaged. “It is important to remember that this is nothing short of a miracle,” said Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval. “Four thousand homes were saved by 400 firefighters.”

Nearly 10,000 people were evacuated on early Friday morning, but most were allowed to return home on Saturday. Sierra Fire Chief Mike Brown said firefighters expect the blaze, which has been named the Caughlin Fire, should be fully controlled by mid-week.

On Friday, officials said one person had died as a result of a heart attack while evacuating the area. Additionally, one firefighter was also taken to a local hospital with first- and second-degree burns.

Governor Sandoval previously made a state declaration of emergency which qualifies local governments for federal assistance associated with the Caughlin Ranch fire. “Declaring a state of emergency ensures that every resource from the local, state and federal level is available to assist,” he said on Friday.

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SOLNA, SWEDEN (BNO NEWS) — SAS Group, the parent company of Scandinavian Airlines, on Friday announced it will sell more than a dozen of its old aircraft to U.S. low-cost airline Allegiant Air.

SAS Group said it has entered an agreement with Sunrise Asset Management, an affiliate of Allegiant Air, to sell thirteen McDonnell Douglas MD-82, MD-83 and MD-87 aircraft. It has also agreed to sell an additional 12 spare engines.

The order value is more than 20 million U.S. dollars and delivery of the aircraft and engines will commence immediately, SAS Group said. It said the delivery is scheduled to be completed in February 2013.

“This transaction is a further step in SAS’ phase-out program for the MD80 series aircraft which are being replaced by [Boeing 737s] and [Airbus A320s] prior to the commencement of the A320 NEO’s ordered earlier this year,” SAS said in a statement.

SAS has already sold dozens of old aircraft to Allegiant Air, which has its headquarters near Las Vegas. SAS sold and delivered 18 MD-80 series aircraft to Allegiant Air last year, and the sale announced on Friday will bring the number of sold MD80 series aircraft by SAS to 45.

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LAS VEGAS (BNO NEWS) — English race car driver Dan Wheldon died on Sunday afternoon after a massive 15-car wreck at the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada.

During lap 11 of the world championship, Wheldon was involved in a serious 15-car accident which also injured three others. Emergency teams had to pull Wheldon out of the race car and airlift him to University Medical Center where he later died at the age of 33.

The accident happened when two cars touched tires as vehicles ran inches apart on the high-banked 1.5-mile (2.4 km) oval. Wheldon’s car, ensnared in the jumble in the middle of the racetrack, flew over another and caught part of the catch fence just past the apex of Turn 2. The incident left cars smoldering and car parts strewn along the backstretch.

IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard announced Wheldon’s death, and a five-lap tribute was carried out as 19 drivers drove around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway while bagpipes played “Amazing Grace.” IndyCar officials later ruled the 200-lap race as incomplete, and Monday’s IndyCar Championship Celebration at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino was canceled.

The three injured racers were J.R. Hildebrand, Pippa Mann, and Will Power, who were also taken to the University Medical Center. Hildebrand stayed overnight for observation but was reported awake and alert. Mann, meanwhile had her pinkie finger operated after suffering from burns, but she will soon be released. Power was released that same afternoon after medical examinations.

Wheldon, of Emberton, England, had won this year’s Indianapolis 500, as well as in 2005, when he became the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champ. He is survived by his wife, Susie, two young sons, his parents, Clive and Susie, and three siblings.

The IZOD IndyCar had not seen a fatality since Paul Dana died of injuries suffered in a crash in the race morning warmup at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2006. Wheldon won the race later that day.

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RENO (BNO NEWS) — The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Friday said a piece of airframe separated from a World War II-era plane before it crashed during the Reno Air Races at Reno-Stead Airport in Nevada last week, killing 11 people.

The accident happened at around 4.30 p.m. local time on September 16 when a P-51D Mustang known as The Galloping Ghost, being flown by 74-year-old Jimmy Leeward from Florida, crashed into a box seat area in front of the main grandstand. Eleven people, including Leeward, were killed while 74 others were injured.

In a preliminary report released on Friday, the NTSB said the airplane had completed several laps and was in a steep left turn towards the home pylon when, according to photographic evidence, the airplane suddenly banked momentarily to the left before banking to the right, turning away from the race course, and pitching to a steep nose-high attitude.

“Witnesses reported and photographic evidence indicates that a piece of the airframe separated during these maneuvers,” the report said. “After roll and pitch variations, the airplane descended in an extremely nose-low attitude and collided with the ground in the box seat area near the center of the grandstand seating area.”

Investigators from both the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examined the wreckage on site in the days after the crash and then transported it to a secure storage facility for a more detailed examination. The investigators have documented the debris field and identified various components of the airplane’s control system and control surfaces.

“The airplane’s ground crew noted that the airplane had a telemetry system that broadcast data to a ground station as well as recorded it to a box on board the airplane,” the report said. “The crew provided the ground station telemetry data, which includes engine parameters and global positioning satellite system data to the NTSB for analysis. The onboard data box, which sustained crush damage, was sent to the NTSB’s Vehicle Recorder laboratory for examination.”

Investigators have also recovered pieces of a camera housing and multiple detached memory cards from the airplane’s onboard camera that were in the debris field. The memory cards and numerous still and video image recordings were also sent to the Vehicle Recorders laboratory for evaluation.

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RENO (BNO NEWS) — Police on Saturday said a total of nine people were killed on Friday when a World War II aircraft crashed during the Reno Air Races at Reno-Stead Airport in Nevada. Sixty-nine others have been injured.

The accident happened at around 4.30 p.m. local time on Friday when a P-51D Mustang known as The Galloping Ghost, being flown by 74-year-old Jimmy Leeward from Florida, crashed into a box seat area in front of the main grandstand after a steep nose-dive.

Reno Deputy Police Chief Dave Evans said seven people were killed at the scene of the accident while two other victims later died at Renown Regional Medical Center which had been staffed to capacity in preparation of the annual air show.

In addition to the nine fatalities, several nearby hospitals reported a total of 69 injured, some of whom were already released on early Saturday morning. Around a dozen remain in a critical condition.

Renown Regional Medical Center said it received a total of 30 patients, including a male and female who were pronounced dead. Six others remain in a critical condition at Renown Regional Medical Center, while two people are in a serious condition, five in fair condition, and one in good condition. Fourteen others were discharged by Saturday morning.

Dan Davis, a spokesman for Renown Regional Medical Center, said Renown South Meadows Medical Center also received five patients who were in a fair condition and were discharged on Saturday morning.

Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center and its affiliated medical facilities received a total of 28 patients, of whom 12 were treated and released within hours of the accident. Two people remained in a critical condition on Saturday while seven are in serious condition and five are in fair condition.

“Given the nature of the accident, Saint Mary’s is treating injuries due to both blunt force and penetrating trauma,” said Jamii Uboldi, a spokesperson for the medical center. “Common injuries being treated at the hospital include fractures of the legs, arms, ribs and fingers, head injuries, amputations, abrasions, lacerations, and chemical burns.”

At Northern Nevada Medical Center, a spokesman said the hospital received a total of eight patients from the plane crash. He said six of those injured were in serious condition, while two others were in good condition.

A memorial for the victims which had been scheduled for Saturday afternoon by the family of Leeward was canceled. “The Reno Air Racing Association is planning a public vigil to be held in the near future,” the Association said in a statement. “We are working to release details by the end of today (Saturday).”

Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the accident.

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RENO (BNO NEWS) — At least two people were killed on late Friday afternoon when a World War II aircraft crashed during the Reno Air Races at Reno-Stead Airport in Nevada, officials said. At least 47 people have been injured.

The accident happened at around 4.30 p.m. local time when a P-51D Mustang known as The Galloping Ghost, being flown by 80-year-old Jimmy Leeward, crashed into a seating area during the air race.

“The aircraft did not catch fire but there was a wide debris field following the crash,” said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). “Multiple FAA inspectors were observing the air race at the time of the crash.”

Stephanie Kruse, a spokeswoman for the Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority (REMSA), said its ambulances transported a total of 40 people to area hospitals. Several others were transported by ambulances from other agencies.

Dan Davis, a spokesman for Renown Regional Medical Center, confirmed the hospital received a total of 24 patients. Two of those injured were pronounced dead at the center, while nine have been critically injured. Eleven people are in a fair condition at Renown.

Saint Mary’s Hospital received at least 4 critical, 7 serious, and 11 non-serious patients. Northern Nevada Medical Center received at least 2 seriously injured patients and 1 person with non-serious injuries, bringing the total number of people injured to 47.

“It’s just like a massacre. It’s like a bomb went off,” Dr. Gerald Lent, who witnessed the crash, told the Reno Gazette-Journal. “There are people lying all over the runway. One guy was cut in half. There’s blood everywhere. There’s arms and legs.”

Officials said the well-known racing pilot was killed, but it was not immediately known if Leeward was among the two confirmed fatalities at Renown or if he is a third fatality. The 2011 National Championship Air Races, which began on Wednesday and were scheduled to conclude on Sunday, were immediately canceled after the accident.

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval assured Reno Mayor Bob Cashell and local law enforcement that all necessary state resources are at their disposal. “My family and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families, and I know every member of the Nevada family is thinking tonight of those we have lost and those we cherish,” he said.

U.S. Senator Harry Reid from Nevada also said he was ‘deeply saddened’ upon hearing news about the accident. “My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives and with those who were wounded in this horrific tragedy,” he said in a statement. “I am so grateful to our first responders for their swift action and will continue to monitor the situation in Reno as it develops.”

According to the website of the Leeward Air Ranch Racing Team, which is owned by Leeward, The Galloping Ghost was one of 900 P-51-15-NA type Mustangs produced by North American Aviation (NAA) during World War II. It was originally delivered to the Army Air Forces (AAF) in December 1944 and later was assigned to the Third Air Force before being declared surplus in October 1945 and put in storage at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.

Previous owners Bruce Raymond and Steve Beville acquired the plane which was involved in Friday’s crash for $3,500 in 1946 for the sole purpose of performing in National Air Races. The aircraft was granted the use of the race number “77″ by the National Aeronautics Association and was named The Galloping Ghost in honor of University of Illinois and Chicago Bears football star Harold “Red” Grange.

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CARSON CITY, NEVADA (BNO NEWS) — Four people were killed on Tuesday morning and several others were injured when a gunman entered an IHOP restaurant in Carson City, Nevada and opened fire, officials said.

The shooting occurred at 8:58 a.m. local time, Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong said during a press conference, adding that a total of nine people were shot before the shooter, identified as Eduardo Sencion, died from a self-inflicted gun shot wound.

Four people have been confirmed dead from the shooting, three of them uniformed members of the National Guard and one was Sencion. In addition, six others were reported injured, two of them also from the National Guard.

According to reports, Sencion, of Carson City, who was carrying an automatic assault rifle similar to an AK-47, drove to the IHOP restaurant located on South Carson City Street and opened fire in the parking lot. After emptying his clip of ammo, he reloaded and entered the restaurant where he opened fire for a few seconds and exited.

In addition, Sencion also shot at other businesses, including an H&R Block and Local’s BBQ. After the attack, he shot himself in the head and later died at a local hospital. Two others were pronounced dead at the scene and the others later succumbed to their wounds after emergency teams rushed them to hospitals.

Although the motive of the killing spree was not immediately known, the FBI said there is no immediate evidence to link it to terrorism. Sheriff Furlong also noted that law enforcement agencies did not open fire during the incident.

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (BNO NEWS) — The U.S. Air Force on Thursday said that according to evidence, the pilot was unable to eject before the F-16 aircraft came down Tuesday evening in the state of Nevada.

According to Nellis Air Force Base officials, Captain Eric Ziegler, 30, died during the crash, which involved an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft that took off from the base and crashed at around 5:30 p.m. local time within Nevada’s military aerospace.

Ziegler took off from Nellis Air Force Base, which is located around 7.1 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and was conducting air-to-air combat exercises about 150 miles north of the city. During the exercises, the aircraft crashed in an area some 20 miles west of Caliente in Nevada’s Lincoln County, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

After investigations, evidence showed that Ziegler, from West Fargo, North Dakota, did not eject in time before the crash, Brigadier General T.J. O’Shaughnessy, commander of the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base said, adding that the aircraft were conducting a ‘dogfight’ exercise but were not equipped with live weaponry with an active locating device.

The U.S. Air Force had deployed three helicopters to conduct search and rescue efforts until Wednesday, and authorities said investigations will continue in order to determine the cause of the crash.

The incident occurred within the 12,000-square-mile military airspace of the the Nevada Test that surrounds the 3-million-acre Training Range, including 5,000 square miles over public land, Nellis Air Force Base spokesman Chuck Ramey had previously stated.

Zeigler was a high school football standout before graduating from West Fargo High School. He helped the team win the state championship in 1999. He later graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2003. He is survived by his wife, Sarah, who works for the Air Force in Las Vegas, and 9-month-old daughter, Anna, according to The Forum newspaper of Fargo-Moorhead.

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