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Tens of Thousands Evacuated as Out-of-Control Hawk Fire Destroys Homes in Reno, Nevada

From CBS News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Hawk Fire in Reno, Nevada, has forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate.
  • The wildfire, described as "human-caused," destroyed homes and injured six people, including first responders.
  • Shifting winds are making firefighting efforts difficult, with zero containment reported.

Tens of thousands of residents in Reno, Nevada, have been ordered to evacuate as the out-of-control Hawk Fire rages through the region, destroying homes and injuring six people.

Please get out if you can right now.

โ€” Darin BalaamWashoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam urged residents to evacuate immediately due to the unpredictable nature of the fire.

The wildfire, which began Saturday, grew to over 23 square miles by Sunday, spreading across the Peavine Peak area of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Firefighters are struggling to contain the blaze, with zero containment reported as shifting winds challenge their efforts. Authorities have urged approximately 90,000 people to evacuate, with 42,000 residents in the "GO NOW" zone, reaching the edge of the University of Nevada campus.

Officials have classified the fire as "human-caused" but have not provided details on whether it was accidental or intentional. The blaze has resulted in the destruction of homes, vehicles, and vegetation. One family shared a harrowing account, with a mother describing seeing her home completely burned down, losing all their possessions.

I woke up this morning and just started crying - all my kids, they lost everything. We lost all our stuff. Everything we own is gone.

โ€” Cari KiefferA resident described the devastation of losing her home and all her family's possessions to the Hawk Fire.

Firefighting crews observed "extreme fire behavior" as strong gusts pushed flames through dry brush. The forecast predicts continued high-intensity runs in dense fuel areas over the next 12 hours, indicating the fire remains highly unpredictable. Authorities are advising residents to be prepared for extended evacuations, potentially lasting several days.

I kept looking outside and the flames just kept getting closer and closer every time I looked. I was like, we gotta go like now.

โ€” Cari KiefferThe resident recounted the terrifying moments as the fire advanced rapidly towards her neighborhood.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CBS News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.