Crews protect Northern Nevada town from wildfire

CARLIN -- Wildfires burning a vast area of Northern Nevada prompted the evacuation of the tiny mining community of Tuscarora while crews bulldozed fire lines to protect homes.

Federal Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman Lesli Ellis-Wouters in Elko said Tuesday that no structures burned and no injuries were reported after the evacuation late Monday of the unincorporated town north of Interstate 80.

Residents were ordered out while more than 550 firefighters battle the Izzenhood, Chukkar Canyon and Indian Creek fires.

The town of Leesville also lost power for a time overnight.

Combined, the three blazes cover more than 250 square miles. That's a land area larger than the city of Chicago.

The fires were sparked by lightning last Friday.