A rapidly spreading wildfire in Nevada has forced nearly 90,000 residents to leave their homes as flames advance toward Reno. The fire, named the Hawk fire, has burned more than 15,000 acres and remains completely uncontained as of Sunday.
The evacuation zone has expanded to the edge of the University of Nevada campus as strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation accelerate the blaze's spread. Of those ordered to evacuate, 42,000 are under strict evacuation orders while an additional 45,000 are in the evacuation warning zone and encouraged to leave immediately.
"If you have been told to evacuate, please don't wait!" Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said in a statement on social media. "Structures have already been burned in this fire and your life is more important than a building. Evacuating before the fire arrives also allows our firefighters to focus their efforts on battling the blaze."
The fire was human-caused, though authorities have not released details about how it started as investigations continue. Three civilians and three first responders have been injured, and several structures have been destroyed.
Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and mobilized the Nevada National Guard to support response efforts. Two helicopter crews have been deployed for aerial firefighting operations, while 60 troops have been assigned to protect evacuated neighborhoods. Around 400 personnel from local, state, and federal agencies are working on the incident, including ground crews and air resources.
The fire's rapid growth has challenged firefighting efforts. Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam described how changing wind patterns sent flames in different directions, making conditions "extremely confusing." On Saturday night, the fire moved exceptionally fast, jumping over fire trucks and complicating efforts for responders to reach hotspots while residents evacuated.
The expanding fire has caused widespread disruption. Nearly 10,000 homes and businesses in Washoe County lost power on Sunday. At least 20 road closures were in effect, including portions of US Route 395, a major north-south highway. The Reno-Stead airport closed to general aviation but remained open to firefighting aircraft. The University of Nevada's Reno campus remained just outside the evacuation zone with an enrollment of about 24,000 students.
Emergency officials opened the Reno-Sparks Convention Center to evacuees, though pets were not permitted there. Small and large animals were directed to two separate locations. Casinos in Reno offered discounted hotel rooms to those evacuated.
Authorities also monitored a county detention facility located several blocks from the evacuation warning zone's outer edge, with plans in place for potential evacuation if conditions worsen. The Hawk fire follows three other wildfires that forced more than 13,000 residents to evacuate earlier in August.