Wildfire threatens Burning Man, entrance road closes

The Nevada entry way to Burning Man has been closed due to a wildfire that is roaring through the area.|
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

RENO, Nev. - The Nevada entry way to Burning Man has been closed due to a wildfire that is roaring through the area.

Officials say the fire was 0 percent contained as of Wednesday night and had burned about 47 square miles (122 square kilometers) of land.

Officials say the Burning Man gathering is a major safety concern, as there is potential for the fire to progress toward the event.

The Nevada Department of Transportation shut down traffic on Nevada 447 in both directions between Empire and Nixon. There is an alternate route to Burning Man from Reno, but it's a six-hour drive up U.S. 395 to Alturas, California.

The fire started on Tuesday northwest of Pyramid Lake in the mountains west of the highway.

Burning Man began Aug. 27 and ends Monday.

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