Nearly 14,000 homes evacuated in Reno due to wildfire
In Nevada, the Hawk Fire wildfire rapidly spread from the Sierra foothills toward downtown Reno. By Sunday morning, the blaze had consumed more than 10,500 acres, and mandatory evacuation orders were issued for residents of nearly 14,000 homes. The urgent evacuation zone reached the boundary of the University of Nevada campus.
As Fortune reports, the fire likely started on Saturday and intensified significantly during the day due to strong gusty winds, low humidity and dry vegetation. According to Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue, about 400 people were working at the scene, along with ground and air resources from local, state and federal agencies.
State of emergency and power outages
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County. He also mobilized the Nevada National Guard: two helicopter crews are to support firefighting efforts from the air, while 60 service members are assisting police in guarding evacuated areas.
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On Sunday, nearly 10,000 homes and businesses in Washoe County were left without electricity. Due to the fire, some sections of U.S. Route 395, one of the main north-south routes, were closed.
Call not to delay evacuation
Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said that some structures had already burned as a result of the fire and urged residents not to delay complying with evacuation orders. According to her, human life is more important than buildings, and residents leaving in a timely manner allows firefighters to focus on battling the blaze.
The Reno-Sparks Convention Center was opened for evacuees, but pets are not accepted there: other locations have been designated for small and large animals. Authorities are also preparing a plan for a possible evacuation of the county jail, located a few blocks from the outer boundary of the warning zone.
