I-80 wildfire nearly contained

RENO -- Firefighters neared containment Friday of a wildfire that burned about 750 acres in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

The Highway fire, which broke out Monday along Interstate 80 just west of the Nevada-California line, was 60 percent contained, officials said.

"We're anticipating if everything goes as planned and the weather cooperates that we'll have full containment by Saturday night," said fire spokesman Dick Birger.

A doubling of manpower and a change in wind direction helped firefighters Thursday. The shifting wind pushed the fire back into itself. More than 600 personnel were working the lines while seven helicopters made aerial water drops.

Interstate 80, the main route between Northern Nevada and California, remained opened, but officials urged drivers to be cautious of fire equipment parked on the edge of the highway through the burn area.

Because of the three-day Memorial Day weekend and anticipated heavy holiday traffic, Birger said some fire crews would stay in the woods.

The goal, he said, is to reduce travel time and decrease the crews' exposure to traffic on the interstate.