United States: Around 90,000 evacuated facing 'Hawk' megaforest fire in Nevada

Authorities in Nevada have issued urgent evacuation orders for around 90,000 residents as a fast-moving wildfire, dubbed "Hawk," threatens the city of Reno. The blaze, which ignited on Saturday, had already scorched 6,087 hectares by Sunday afternoon and was burning just 8 kilometers northwest of Reno, a metropolitan area with over 280,000 inhabitants.

The "Hawk" fire has exhibited "extreme behavior," according to the government website InciWeb, which monitors wildfires nationwide. Images shared by firefighters on X depicted flames and massive smoke plumes rising from the mountains overlooking the city. The flames have already destroyed homes on mountaintops and caused six injuries, including three among first responders, local media reported.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency for Washoe County, where Reno is located. His decree stated that the fire "is spreading rapidly and threatening homes and infrastructure." Reno is situated in northwestern Nevada, close to the California border and the popular tourist destination Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Local fire chief Richard Edwards urged the public to remain prepared for immediate evacuation, or even to evacuate preemptively. "The Hawk fire is a very dynamic event for us because it is wind-driven. Wind-driven fires move very quickly into our residential areas," he warned. The fire's rapid spread is attributed to strong winds, exacerbating the danger to populated areas.

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The Hawk fire is a very dynamic event for us because it is wind-driven. Wind-driven fires move very quickly into our residential areas.