Reno Wildfire Forces Mass Evacuations as Crews Battle Uncontained Blaze
A human-caused wildfire near Reno, Nevada, remains uncontained, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate as crews drop retardant.
A rapidly spreading wildfire in northwest Reno, Nevada, remained uncontained on Sunday after destroying structures and prompting evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents. The blaze, dubbed the Hawk Fire, began on Saturday and has since grown to cover roughly 20 square miles across the Peavine Peak area of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
Authorities have confirmed that at least six people have been injured, including three civilians and three first responders. The cause of the fire is under investigation, though officials have stated it was human-caused.
The fire's rapid growth on Saturday night overwhelmed responders, with flames jumping over fire trucks and hindering efforts to reach hotspots as residents attempted to flee. Video footage captured on Saturday shows an aircraft dropping fire retardant over the burning forest as onlookers watched from a distance.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and mobilized the Nevada National Guard, deploying two helicopter crews and 60 troops to assist with aerial firefighting and to help police safeguard evacuated neighborhoods. In total, around 800 fire personnel are responding to the incident.
Evacuation orders, marked as "GO NOW" zones, have expanded to affect approximately 42,000 residents, reaching the edge of the University of Nevada at Reno. An additional 45,000 people are in an adjacent evacuation warning zone. Authorities are urging all residents in these areas to leave immediately and prepare to stay away for several days, as shifting and strengthening winds are expected to make the fire more unpredictable.
Emergency shelters have been set up, including the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, though evacuees are being asked to leave pets at separate designated locations. Several casinos in Reno are offering discounted hotel rooms to those displaced.
Power outages have affected nearly 10,000 customers in Washoe County, down from a peak of 60,000 on Saturday. Portions of U.S. Route 395, a major north-south highway, have been closed due to the fire. Reno, home to more than 280,000 people, is the largest city in Nevada outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area.