A 6.0 magnitude earthquake caused major structural damage and scattered fires in northeastern Nevada Thursday morning. It rocked some buildings in Salt Lake City and was felt by some in Provo.

The quake occurred at 7:16 a.m. in Wells, Nev., approximately 150 miles west of Salt Lake City.

At least 10 Provo residents who felt the quake reported to the U.S. Geological Society. On a scale of 12, most considered the shaking a three.

Mindy Raye Holmes, a senior from San Jacinto, Calf., majoring in print journalism, said she could feel it in her apartment on the third floor.

"I was laying in bed and it just felt like my bed was shaking a little," Holmes said. "But since my bed is on cinder blocks, I was thinking that it was just shaking a little because I was moving. But then somebody said that there had been an earthquake this morning and it was at the same time that I felt the shaking."

Nobody from the NuSkin building or Marriott Hotel in Provo, two of the cities tallest structures, reported any rocking when contacted.

News agencies near the epicenter reported major structural damage in Wells' historical district. KELK Radio in Elko, Nev., reported bricks and signs falling from several buildings. Debris from the buildings also landed on cars. No injuries were initially reported.

No geology professors on campus were available for comment.

BYU students who live near the Wells area phoned home to make sure their families were OK.

"A lot of the dishes and the pottery that we had had fallen down and broken," said Nathan Reber, a senior from Wells, majoring in landscape management. "Our neighbor said that there were no shattered windows but there was a crack in the wall."

Reber's family was on vacation at the time. He considered going home to examine the damage but was advised not to.

"My neighbor thought it was still kind of dangerous," Reber said. "They've still been having aftershocks. ... My mom said they had shut down the stores there, so if I did go I would have to bring my own food and possibly my own water."

Matt Alleman, a senior from Elko, majoring in Russian, has family living about 55 miles from the epicenter. He said both of his parents were teaching seminary at the time. They didn't feel the shaking at first but noticed a hanging projector screen tapping the chalkboard.

"They thought the bigger boys in the front row were shaking their legs so they asked them to stop," Alleman said. "Then they stopped, but the walls were still shaking."

Alleman's parents said it lasted approximately a minute. Items in their home fell off shelves, but there was no serious damage.

Tremors were felt throughout Nevada and Utah, with some reports coming from as far away as Southern California.

Copyright Brigham Young University 21 Feb 2008