Reno’s mayor to residents near a fast-growing wildfire: your life matters more than your house

The fast-growing Hawk Fire, spurred by strong gusts, low humidity, and dry vegetation, rapidly expanded from the Sierra foothills into Reno early Sunday, consuming more than 10,500 acres of land. Over 14,000 homes were ordered to evacuate, with the "G0 NOW" zone extending to the edge of the University of Nevada campus. Washoe County emergency officials set up the Reno-Sparks Convention Center as a temporary shelter for evacuees, but emphasized that pets, both small and large, must remain at two other designated locations.

Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County, and called upon the Nevada National Guard to provide aerial firefighting assistance via two helicopters and 60 troops to aid in police protection of evacuated neighborhoods. The fire's origin was traced back to Saturday, and it rapidly escalated throughout the day due to the aforementioned weather conditions.

As of Sunday, approximately 10,000 homes and businesses were left without power in Washoe County, and several miles of U.S. Route 395, a crucial north-south highway, were temporarily closed due to the ongoing blaze. Mayor Hillary Schieve urged residents to heed evacuation orders, stating that structures were already destroyed in the fire and lives are of utmost importance.

Authorities remain vigilant about the safety of inmates at a nearby county detention facility, located near the outer edge of the evacuation warning area. In a parallel incident earlier this month, three wildfires, similarly fueled by extreme heat, dryness, and strong winds, forced over 13,000 residents to flee their homes near Reno.