California ? A wildfire fanned by high wind on the eastern front of the Sierra Nevada led to the evacuation of homes and two schools Tuesday and closed a 40-mile section of highway spanning the California state line.

About 50 homes were immediately threatened, and another 150 structures were in the area, said Mark Struble, a spokesman for the Sierra Front Interagency Fire Dispatch Center. The fire covered a little less than a square mile.

No injuries or damage to homes have been reported, he said.

The 600-acre fire was burning primarily in grass, sagebrush and scrub pine about 45 miles south of Carson City, Nev., Struble said. Air tankers were grounded in winds of 40 mph.

The overnight forecast called for winds up to 35 mph with gusts to 55 mph, Struble said.

Authorities evacuated a grade school and high school, as well as neighborhoods with as many as 200 residents. The post office in Coleville was evacuated, the mail safeguarded and alternate delivery plans being made, Struble said.