Nevada: State of emergency declared, over 40,000 evacuated in Reno as strong wind fuels Hawk Fire
The fire has put another 45,000 people on standby for evacuation as the flames approach Reno. Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County.
Fires in Reno, Nev.
Authorities in Nevada ordered the closure of nearly all schools in Washoe County on Monday and urged tens of thousands of people to leave their homes or prepare to do so, as a wind-driven wildfire advances toward Reno.
According to Mayor Hillary Schieve, some 42,000 people have already had to evacuate, and another 45,000 are on standby to leave.
The Hawk Fire, which started on Saturday, reached 15,051 acres by Sunday night and was exhibiting "extreme behavior," according to InciWeb , the federal system that tracks wildfires.
Very close to the metropolitan area
The fire is advancing about 5 miles northwest of Reno, a metropolitan area of more than 280,000 residents that can already see plumes of smoke rising over the mountains. So far, no fatalities have been reported. However, at least six people have been injured—three of them firefighters—and several homes on the mountaintop have been destroyed, according to local media reports cited by AFP.
Authorities are attributing the fire to human causes, though they have not yet specified how it started. Some 800 personnel are participating in the response efforts, including teams from Australia and New Zealand.
State of Emergency and warning not to wait
Local fire chief Richard Edwards emphasized the danger of wind-driven fires, which "move very rapidly into our residential areas."
Mayor Schieve insisted: "If you have been told to evacuate, please don't wait!"
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