A rapidly spreading wildfire in northwest Reno, Nevada, destroyed homes on Sunday, posing challenges for firefighters due to shifting winds. The blaze, named the Hawk Fire, erupted on Saturday and quickly expanded to over 60 square kilometers in the Peavine Peak area of the Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest. Authorities indicated that the fire was of “human-caused” origin, without specifying whether it was deliberate or accidental.

Approximately 90,000 people were urged to evacuate as the fire encroached on residential areas near the California state border. Among those evacuated were 42,000 residents in the immediate danger zone and an additional 45,000 individuals in a neighboring warning area. Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam urged all residents to evacuate promptly, emphasizing the unpredictability of the fire due to anticipated wind changes.

One resident, Cari Kieffer, described the devastation after witnessing her house reduced to ashes, leaving her family with nothing but charred remnants. Kieffer recounted the frantic evacuation process as the fire rapidly approached their neighborhood, forcing them to leave behind cherished possessions and personal belongings.

The Nevada National Guard was activated to aid in firefighting efforts, with Governor Joe Lombardo declaring a state of emergency in Washoe County. Hundreds of firefighters and support personnel were deployed to combat the blaze. Power outages affected nearly 10,000 customers in the county, with sections of U.S. Route 395 closed due to the fire’s proximity.

Emergency shelters were set up for evacuees at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, with accommodations offered by local casinos. The University of Nevada was situated just outside the evacuation zone, providing relief to students as they settled into campus housing. The fire’s rapid escalation underscored the severe fire conditions prevalent in the region, exacerbated by months of dry weather and minimal snowfall during the previous winter.