High winds scour Valley

High winds sent trees toppling, shingles flying and blew fires into blazes on Tuesday.

Three fires were fanned by winds that gusted up to 72 mph in Minden, according to the National Weather Service.

Fires in Woodfords, the Gardnerville Ranchos and Fish Springs were driven by winds, but quickly doused by firefighters.

Brief power outages hit Carson Valley as power lines were driven together or hit by debris, according to Karl Walquist of Sierra Pacific Power Co.

Reports from Antelope Valley were that power is out to some of those residents.

Walquist said a pole was knocked down in Coleville and that a Sierra Pacific crew was en route. He said 15 customers were affected by the outage.

The roof of the Cost Cutters in Minden was damaged, sending ceiling tiles raining down into the shop.

A tree fell across Foothill Road and knocked phone lines down with it. Another tree was reported down near Kingsbury Grade.

High wind warnings closed Highway 395 south of Holbrook Junction to high profile vehicles. The closure extends south to Bridgeport.

By 5 p.m., the snow level on Kingsbury was reported down to 6,000 feet. An accident on Highway 395 in Washoe Valley was delaying traffic.