'Scared to death': Over 40,000 people evacuated as Nevada's Hawk fire spreads

Nearly 90,000 individuals have been instructed to evacuate an area near Reno, Nevada, as a massive wildfire approached the city limits. Roughly 42,000 residents were directed to leave their homes immediately, while an additional 45,000 were warned to prepare for an imminent departure. The blaze, initially reported on Saturday morning, had already claimed six lives, according to officials.

Unpredictable and windy weather conditions have exacerbated the fire's rapid spread. Governor Joe Lombardo has declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and called upon the National Guard to assist in firefighting and law enforcement operations. He emphasized, "This is an active and rapidly evolving situation and I urge everyone in the affected areas to remain vigilant and follow the direction of local officials."

The fire was determined to be human-caused and was first documented at 11:15 a.m. local time (18:15 GMT) on Saturday. As of Sunday evening, the fire had consumed approximately 10,500 acres and was not yet contained. Roughly 13,700 homes fell within the evacuation zone, with two shelters established to accommodate displaced residents.

Among the six individuals injured, three were emergency responders battling the inferno. All Washoe County schools will be closed on Monday, with the exception of one, and extensive road closures are in effect. Situated in western Nevada, Reno is located near the state's border with California and is home to around 280,000 people.