Wildfire Near Reno Triggers Evacuation for 90,000
Nevada declares a state of emergency as the Hawk Fire approaches Reno, forcing 42,000 residents to evacuate immediately and 45,000 others to get ready.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The Hawk Fire nears Reno, Nevada, prompting evacuation warnings and orders for nearly 90,000 people.
- Six people are injured, including three emergency responders, amid windy and unpredictable weather.
- Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declares a state of emergency and deploys the National Guard.
- Washoe County schools close for Monday and major road closures remain in effect across the area.
Tens of thousands of residents near Reno, Nevada, face mandatory evacuations as a rapidly moving wildfire reaches the city's outskirts. Officials reported that the blaze, driven by windy and unpredictable weather conditions, started on Saturday morning near the Hawk Meadow Trail west of Reno, earning it the name Hawk Fire.
Local emergency services confirmed that approximately 42,000 individuals have been ordered to leave their homes immediately, while another 45,000 people received notices to prepare for evacuation. Roughly 13,700 homes fall inside the evacuation zone, where two emergency shelters have been established for displaced residents. The Washoe emergency information centre noted that the fire has consumed about 15,000 acres, or 23 square miles, with zero containment achieved as of Sunday lunchtime.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo responded to the crisis by declaring a state of emergency for Washoe County. He ordered the Nevada National Guard—deploying 72 personnel alongside one Chinook and one Black Hawk helicopter—to assist local firefighters and law enforcement agencies with response efforts.
"This is an active and rapidly evolving situation and I urge everyone in the affected areas to remain vigilant and follow the direction of local officials."
Joe Lombardo, Governor of Nevada
Emergency officials stated that six people have sustained injuries so far, including three emergency responders actively fighting the flames. Large air tankers and helicopters continue to fly over the affected zones, dropping water and fire retardants to suppress the advancing fire lines.
While wildfires frequently occur across south-western US states like Nevada according to federal climate data, most typically ignite in rural and sparsely populated locations. The escalation of a blaze encroaching directly upon a major population centre like Reno—home to roughly 280,000 residents—highlights the severe seasonal threats and logistical challenges emergency responders face during extreme fire weather.
In response to the hazard, all schools across Washoe County except one are closed on Monday, alongside extensive road closures. Meanwhile, the University of Nevada in Reno stated that its main campus operations would continue while staff closely monitor the ongoing environmental threat.
Source: BBC World
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