Reno, Nev., officials are blaming discarded ashes for a brush fire that destroyed 29 homes and forced 10,000 people to evacuate the area. An elderly man was cleaning his fireplace and dumped the ashes improperly. Fire Chief Michael Hernandez said the man was extremely remorseful. The fire, which started in a nearby valley, has been about 50 percent contained, but is still covering close to 4,000 acres of land. Roughly 2,000 people remain evacuated. A near-record drought and high-gusting winds contributed to the fire's rapid spread.
