Firefighters battle flames and smoke near Reno fueled by drought and wind

A devastating wildfire is threatening more than 90,000 residents in the Nevada city of Reno, prompting authorities to order evacuations. The out-of-control fire, known as the Hawk Fire, has already scorched over 60 square kilometres of land and has been human-caused, though the exact cause remains undetermined. Eyewitnesses have compared the scene to a movie, with smouldering ruins of homes and cars scattered across the area.

At least six people have been injured, including three first responders and three civilians. Schools were closed Monday to accommodate the evacuations and allow emergency crews to navigate the roads safely. The fire began on Saturday and has shown no signs of containment, with shifting winds raising concerns that it could spread into densely populated neighborhoods on the city's outskirts.

Ruby Delatorre, a resident, expressed disbelief and distress, stating that the evacuation felt like something out of a movie. Teresa Lenshyn, among the evacuees, described the situation as chaotic and stressful, emphasizing the uncertainty of the winds' potential impact. This wildfire joins a string of large-scale blazes in the region over the past two weeks, all stemming from human activity and exacerbated by extremely dry conditions across the American West.