Brush Fire Burning Homes South of Reno, Nev. Winds gusting up to 80 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire through a valley south of Reno on Thursday, burning multiple homes and threatening many more along U.S. Highway 395. Nevada State Trooper Dan Lopez said authorities have shut down about a five-mile stretch of the highway after heavy smoke reduced visibility to zero north of Washoe Lake in Pleasant Valley, about 10 miles from Reno. Authorities evacuated hundreds of students from Pleasant Valley Elementary School and were beginning to move people out of neighboring Washoe City. At least three structures have burned, and explosions could be heard in the area, The Reno Gazette-Journal reported. Lopez said U.S. 395 was closed from the south end of Reno at the Mount Rose Highway leading to Lake Tahoe, to the north end of Washoe Valley near the Bowers Mansion. Northbound traffic was being rerouted back to Carson City about 15 miles to the south.