Fire crews gain on two fires

Fire crews gained ground today on two wildland fires in northern Nevada.

They managed to dig a line around about 50 percent of a 400-acre blaze southwest of Empire, about 70 miles north of Reno.

Fifty personnel, aided by three engines and two air tankers were on the scene. They were hampered by the rugged terrain, but said rocks also were helping them with their work.

It started Sunday behind a truck that was out in the desert.

Crews also were nearing completion of a line around the 14,000-acre Keystone fire in the desert near the Mill City exit on Interstate-80.

That blaze about 28 miles southwest of Winnemucca started as two fires over the weekend that merged into one.

No structures were threatened in either of the fires.

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