RENO, Nev. (AP) — Authorities say a small airplane or engine-driven recreational aircraft has crashed in northern Nevada, igniting a wildfire on rugged and scenic Slide Mountain south of Reno.
Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District spokesman Adam Mayberry says the fire was reported about 1:40 p.m. Sunday in the Mount Rose Wilderness and quickly grew to 20 acres.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that Washoe County sheriff's officials began a rescue operation, and state and federal firefighters headed to the scene.
The crash area near Bowers Mansion is popular for gliders and small recreational aircraft.
Officials say it is so steep that rescuers could not immediately get to the crash scene to reach possible survivors or identify the aircraft.
Federal Aviation Administration official Ian Gregor says the agency has no immediate information about the aircraft.