Hawk Fire: 90,000 Told to Evacuate as Wildfire Approaches Reno, Nevada
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Nearly 90,000 told to evacuate as wildfire approaches Reno, Nevada
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Figure caption: Plumes of smoke seen over Reno as thousands evacuate due to wildfires
By Ben Hatton
Published 12 minutes ago
Tens of thousands of people have been told to evacuate from an area close to Reno, Nevada, as a large wildfire reached the outskirts of the city.
Around 42,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes immediately, with a further 45,000 people urged to get ready to leave.
The fire, which was first reported on Saturday morning, had so far injured six people, officials said. Windy and unpredictable weather conditions have contributed to its spread.
Nevada's Governor Joe Lombardo has declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and ordered the National Guard to join firefighting and law enforcement efforts.
"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," he said.
The fire was caused by humans and first reported at 11:15 local time (18:15 GMT) on Saturday, according to local officials. As of Sunday evening, the fire had burned around 10,500 acres and was 0% contained.
Around 13,700 homes were inside the evacuation area, local emergency services said, with two shelters set up to take in displaced residents.
Of the six injured, three were emergency responders fighting the fire.
Image source:
Getty Images
Reuters/Nevada National Guard
Image caption: The Nevada National Guard said 72 personnel, one Chinook, and one Black Hawk helicopter had joined the response.
All Washoe County schools will be closed on Monday, except one, and mass road closures are in place.
Reno, in western Nevada, is located close to the state boundary with California and has a population of around 280,000 people.
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