Nevada wildfire forces thousands to evacuate near Reno

Officials in Nevada urged residents to evacuate their homes on Sunday as the wind-driven Hawk Fire rapidly approached the city of Reno. The blaze, which started just one day prior, had already consumed over 15,000 acres by Sunday afternoon and was burning dangerously close to the metropolitan area. Thousands have already fled, with many more on standby to leave.

The fire has exhibited "extreme fire behavior," according to InciWeb, a US government wildfire tracking website. Images shared by local fire services depicted flames and thick smoke billowing over mountains overlooking Reno. The destruction has already begun, with some mountaintop homes reportedly lost and several individuals, including first responders, injured.

Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency for Washoe County, emphasizing the fire's rapid spread and the immediate threat to homes and structures. Local fire chief Richard Edwards stressed the dynamic nature of the incident, warning residents to be prepared for immediate evacuation orders due to the strong winds pushing the fire into residential areas.

“

The Hawk Fire is a very dynamic incident for us as it's being driven by the winds. The wind-driven fires move very rapidly into our residential areas.