More than 40,000 evacuate as wildfire nears Reno in US
Officials in Nevada have urged people to evacuate their homes as a fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire bore down on the city of Reno.
More than 40,000 individuals have been compelled to evacuate their homes as a rapidly spreading wildfire approached the US city of Reno in Nevada, according to reports. Authorities have also ordered schools to remain closed in Washoe County, where Reno is situated, in response to the Hawk Fire. The fire, which ignited on Saturday, has grown to cover 6,091 hectares by the previous evening, exhibiting extreme fire behavior, according to InciWeb, a US government website that monitors fire activity.
The blaze is situated 8km northwest of Reno, a metropolitan area with a population exceeding 280,000 people, as per census data from 2025. No fatalities have been reported; however, at least six people have been injured, including three first responders, and several mountain-top residences have been destroyed, as per local media coverage.
The cause of the fire has been attributed to human activity, though the exact origin remains undetermined. Over 800 firefighters, including teams from Australia and New Zealand, are currently battling the flames. Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve declared a state of emergency in Washoe County, urging residents to be prepared for immediate evacuation should authorities instruct them to do so.
Local Fire Chief Richard Edwards emphasized the rapid progression of the fire, driven by strong winds, which is threatening homes and structures. The mayor further warned residents not to delay if they have been directed to evacuate.
Written by urgent.news from RTE News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
