A fast-moving, human-caused wildfire near Reno, Nevada, has forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate as flames raced through dry vegetation and threatened communities on the city’s outskirts.
The Hawk Fire, which began near Peavine Peak, rapidly expanded to more than 23 square miles, destroying homes and putting nearby neighborhoods and businesses at risk. At the height of the emergency, evacuation orders and warnings affected nearly 90,000 people.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and authorized National Guard support, including helicopters and personnel to assist local authorities. Hundreds of firefighters and other emergency responders were deployed as crews battled the blaze from the ground and air.
At least seven people, including firefighters and civilians, were injured, while dozens of homes were destroyed or damaged. Officials said the fire was human-caused but had not determined whether it was accidental or intentional.
Strong and shifting winds initially made the fire extremely difficult to control, allowing flames to spread rapidly and forcing authorities to close roads and warn residents to leave immediately when evacuation orders were issued. Thousands of residents also lost power during the emergency.
Firefighters have since made progress. Containment has now reached about 27%, while the number of people under evacuation orders or warnings had fallen to roughly 63,000. Officials nevertheless cautioned that dry vegetation, heat and changing winds continued to pose a threat.
