Hawk Fire rages across Nevada, residents told to evacuate

A state of emergency has been declared by Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo as the devastating and rapidly spreading ‘Hawk Fire’ wildfire continues to rage in and around the city of Reno, Nevada, in the United States. At least 90,000 residents have been ordered to leave the area and move to safe shelters as strong winds have caused the fire to spiral out of control.

The fire, which started in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, has already burned more than 15,000 acres, or around 6,000 hectares. At least six people have been injured in the fire, including three rescuers and firefighters. Several homes and vehicles have been completely destroyed. At least 10,000 customers in Washoe County are without electricity due to the severe wildfire and power disconnections. To bring the situation under control, Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and deployed the National Guard. Two helicopter crews have been deployed to fight the fire from the air, while 60 soldiers have been assigned to patrol evacuated areas.

Around 800 firefighters are also working tirelessly to bring the blaze under control. However, extremely dry weather and strong gusts of wind are severely hampering firefighting efforts. As the flames have reached areas near the University of Nevada, Reno campus, warnings have also been issued over the safety of students there. According to estimates by firefighters and local authorities, the wildfire may have been caused by a human-made incident. However, an official investigation into the matter is still underway.