2 wildfires prompt evacuations, homes damaged in Moapa

Fires damage homes, prompt evacuations near Vegas

LAS VEGAS — Firefighters are battling two wildfires near Las Vegas that have forced evacuations, and one of the blazes has burned 15 buildings.

Authorities say a fire that started Thursday morning near the desert ranching hamlet of Moapa, 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas, spread across 680 acres. Ten homes are among the buildings damaged or destroyed.

More than 100 firefighters with aerial tankers and a helicopter are fighting the blaze. Officials said fire activity had decreased after nightfall, but they expected a resurgence Friday.

Meanwhile, homes were evacuated in subdivisions of a rustic community on Mount Charleston, about 40 miles northwest of Las Vegas, where a 13- 15-acre blaze burned Thursday in steep terrain off State Route 157.

Officials say several road are closed around Mount Charleston, but all roads in the Moapa area are open.

There have been no serious injuries in either blaze, both of which were human-caused.