US: Wildfire forces mass evacuations near Reno, Nevada

Over the weekend, a rapidly spreading wildfire forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes near Reno, Nevada. The fire, dubbed the Hawk Fire, started Saturday morning off Hawk Meadow Trail and quickly expanded, growing to between 13,000 and 15,000 acres by Sunday. Nearly 90,000 residents were placed in the expanded "GO NOW" zone, with an additional 45,000 ordered to be ready to evacuate, covering a large portion of the city of Reno and its surrounding areas.

The fire has resulted in at least six injuries – three first responders and three civilians – and has destroyed an unknown number of homes. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County, mobilizing the National Guard with two helicopters and 60 troops to assist with firefighting and security efforts. Fire Chief Richard Edwards explained that the winds are making the fire extremely dynamic and unpredictable, rapidly moving towards residential areas.

Local resident Cari Kieffer shared her harrowing experience, recounting how she and her family had only minutes to escape with essential belongings, such as clothes, a Bible, wedding photos, and her mother's ashes. She described the intense heat and the flames' relentless progress, ultimately leading to the loss of all their possessions. The Reno-Tahoe airport remained outside the evacuation zone, with flights operating normally.

Despite some reduction in the number of customers without power, nearly 10,000 still remained without electricity in Washoe County on Sunday, down from around 60,000 the previous day. The blaze is one of many fires across the drought-stricken Western United States this year, with fifteen additional fires igniting in Nevada alone on Saturday.