Crews back to battling Vegas-area wildfires in Moapa and on Mount Charleston

Crews resume fighting Las Vegas-area wildfires

LAS VEGAS — Firefighters are back to battling two wildfires that have forced evacuations of homes in communities near Las Vegas, including one that burned 15 buildings in the desert ranching hamlet of Moapa.

No serious injuries have been reported in either blaze. Both were human-caused and broke out Thursday.

The Moapa fire damaged or destroyed 10 homes and five other buildings as it swept across some 680 acres off State Route 168 about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

More than 100 firefighters with aerial tankers and a helicopter are fighting that blaze.

Meanwhile, homes were evacuated on Mount Charleston, about 40 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

More than 250 firefighters from four states are battling a 20-acre wildfire in steep terrain off State Route 157. No structures have been damaged.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — 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.