Fire Near Reno, Nev., Prompts Evacuations of Homes and Hospitals

Nearly 90,000 residents were ordered to evacuate on Monday as a large wildfire approached the city of Reno, Nevada. The Hawk Fire had burned 15,000 acres by Monday and officials warned that gusts of wind could push the flames towards more homes. Evacuation orders remained in place for 23,000 people, but others could now return to their homes.

Thousands more were told to be ready to evacuate at any moment. Unfavorable weather conditions, including strong winds, were forecast for the next two days, potentially allowing the fire to continue burning. No deaths were reported, though seven people were injured, including three firefighters. The blaze, which began on Saturday morning, had spread to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains near Reno because of windy and unpredictable weather.

While the immediate evacuation zone and wider area did not extend to the center of Reno, they affected large urban areas and part of a highway. Air tankers and helicopters dropped water and fire retardants over the affected area. Chief Richard Edwards of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District said the blaze was at least 27% contained.

Shelters were set up to accommodate displaced residents, but more than two-thirds of the fire's perimeter remained uncontained. The cause of the fire was believed to be human, and investigators were still determining if it was set intentionally. Scientists attribute the increasing likelihood of such fires to human-induced climate change, which has led to warmer, drier conditions in Nevada, where Reno's average temperature has risen over 4°C since the 1970s.

Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County, ordering the National Guard to join firefighting and law enforcement efforts. Firefighters from Australia, New Zealand, and 15 US states were involved in the containment effort. The University of Nevada in Reno, located in the area where residents were warned to prepare to evacuate, continued its regular operations but monitored the situation.

One student, James Wolfgang Perez, reported seeing the fire heading towards the campus on Saturday. Justin Davis, who lives on Peavine Mountain near Reno, described watching the fire spread towards his home and destroying four of his vehicles. Davis had purchased a water truck to save his property. The fire, named the Hawk Fire, was first reported near the Hawk Meadow Trail to the west of Reno.

Reno, located close to the state boundary with California, has a population of around 280,000. Wildfires are common in southwestern US states, including Nevada, and are becoming more severe.