RODEO BEACH, Calif. -- A giant limb claimed the life of a San Francisco woman in the city's Stern Grove Park and a 20-year-old woman died after falling from a coastal trail in Marin County -- both deaths may have been the results of powerful winds that raked the region from the Bay Area to Reno.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area spokeswoman Ozola Cody said that Phoebe Washer of San Francisco was hiking with her 22-year-old boyfriend along a steep coastal trail at about 2:45 p.m. when she slipped and fell from a cliff.

"He did not actually see her fall. He just heard the rocks and a scream," said Cody.

The man hiked down toward Washer, getting close enough to realize that she was unresponsive. Rescuers say the woman fell more than fifty feet down the cliff. Park officials say the boyfriend managed to make his way down to the victim and called 911 from his cell phone.

Rescuers said Monday's strong winds may have played a role in Washer's fall.

"It's very treacherous and windy out here," said Assistant Presidio Fire Chief Vincent Milano. "It's very dangerous. Just like the water, you have to take care."

Authorities say Kathleen Bolton was putting the dog into her car at Stern Grove when a limb measuring 10 inches in diameter fell on her a little before noon Monday.

Bolton was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where she died at 12:14 p.m.

A spokeswoman for the city's Recreation and Park Department says the tree is about 40 years old and appears to be healthy.

Winds were gusting at more than 25 mph Monday. San Francisco Fire Department spokesman Mindy Talmadge said that she wasn't sure if the wind was to blame but "it was quite windy out there."

Meanwhile, howling winds raised in the Reno area -- knocking out power, downing trees and giving firefighters a hard time as they battled a blaze that destroyed one unoccupied home.

Three or four outbuildings also were destroyed when the fire broke out Monday afternoon in a southwest Reno neighborhood, fire officials said.

No one was injured and the cause remained under investigation.

Sierra Pacific Power Co. says about 800 customers lost power because of downed lines. Electricity was restored to most customers overnight.

The National Weather Service says sustained gusts topping 60 mph buffeted the region.