Human-caused wildfire near Reno forces 90,000 evacuations, injures six
The Hawk Fire tore through Reno, Nevada's Peavine Mountain area over the weekend, destroying homes and prompting a state of emergency as winds pushed flames toward the University of Nevada campus.
A fast-moving wildfire that authorities say was human-caused burned uncontained through northwest Reno, Nevada, over the weekend, destroying homes and injuring at least six people, including three first responders. The Hawk Fire began Saturday and grew to about 20 square miles across the Peavine Peak area of the Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest, where rugged terrain meets homes and businesses near the California border.
Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said shifting winds sent flames in unpredictable directions, at times jumping over fire trucks and hampering crews trying to reach hotspots while residents fled. Officials ordered roughly 42,000 people to evacuate immediately, with the zone expanding to the edge of the University of Nevada at Reno, while another 45,000 were told to prepare to leave. Authorities urged residents to stay away for several days to keep roads clear for firefighters.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and deployed National Guard helicopters and troops to assist roughly 800 firefighting personnel. Nearly 10,000 customers remained without power Sunday, down from 60,000 the day before, and parts of U.S. Route 395 were closed. The Reno-Sparks Convention Center was opened for evacuees, though pets had to be taken to separate shelter sites.
Several families described losing everything with little warning. One woman said she and her husband raced to grab their four children, dogs and a few keepsakes as flames advanced down a hillside toward their neighborhood, only to learn hours later their home had burned to the ground.
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