Wildfire Forces Evacuations in Reno, Nevada

Reno, Nevada — A wildfire rapidly spread through the Sierra Nevada foothills near Reno, Nevada, prompting officials to urge over 90,000 residents to evacuate. The fire poses a threat to neighborhoods due to shifting winds and has already damaged some homes.

Emergency crews closed schools across the county on Monday to ensure clear roads and facilitate evacuations. The fire, known as the Hawk Fire, has reached more than 23 square miles (60 square kilometers) since starting on Saturday. Firefighters are actively working to prevent the fire from crossing a main highway and reaching residential and commercial areas.

The blaze is “human-caused,” although officials have not specified whether it was accidental or deliberate. At least three first responders and three civilians sustained injuries. Social media videos show homes and cars reduced to smoldering ruins, with scattered remnants like a burnt basketball hoop visible.

Residents had limited time to evacuate as the fire’s size increased quickly. Ruby Delatorre described returning from a concert to find her home located in the evacuation zone.

Honestly, I thought it was like in a movie.

Delatorre was able to collect a few belongings, commenting,

I literally want to cry and go back for all my stuff. I just got what I thought I needed.

Some evacuees initially suspected the smoke originated from another ongoing wildfire in the area. Teresa Lenshyn, another evacuee, shared her stress over the chaotic evacuation process, expressing concern over unpredictable wind patterns worsening the situation.

The Hawk Fire is the third significant wildfire north of Reno in two weeks, all attributed to human activity. Dry conditions across the West have led to numerous wildfires this summer. An example of the widespread impact includes fires in eastern Washington state, which forced 60,000 evacuations in the Spokane area in early August.

The National Interagency Fire Center reports over 50,000 wildfires throughout the U.S. during the last 10 years, marking this period as notably active.