A fast-moving Nevada wildfire exploded to more than ۱۳,۰۰۰ acres (۵,۲۰۰ hectares) early on Sunday, pushing from the Sierra foothills toward the center of Reno and forcing nearly ۴۲,۰۰۰ residents to evacuate as flames threatened neighborhoods and reached the edge of the University of Nevada campus.
The Hawk fire’s “GO NOW” evacuation zone had expanded to the edge of the university campus as strong, gusty winds, low humidity and dry vegetation fueled the blaze, according to Truckee Meadows fire and Rescue in Reno. An additional ۴۵,۰۰۰ people were in the evacuation warning zone, and encouraged to leave now and be prepared to stay away for several days to clear the roads for first-responders.
“If you have been told to evacuate, please don’t wait!” Hillary Schieve, Reno’s mayor, said in a statement posted on social media on Saturday night. “Structures have already been burned in this fire and your life is more important than a building. Evacuating before the fire arrives also allows our firefighters to focus their efforts on battling the blaze.”
Authorities confirmed three civilians and three first responders had been injured in the fire and several structures have been destroyed.
Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe county and mobilized the Nevada national guard. Two helicopter crews were deployed to support aerial firefighting operations, while ۶۰ troops were assigned to help police safeguard evacuated neighborhoods. However winds were whipping the flames in different directions, complicating the fight.
“Approximately ۴۰۰ personnel are currently working on the incident, with resources coming together from local, state and federal agencies, including ground crews and air resources,” the Truckee Meadows statement said.
The rapidly expanding fire was surrounded by neighborhoods, and nearly ۱۰,۰۰۰ homes and businesses in Washoe county were without power on Sunday. Portions of US Route ۳۹۵, a major north-south highway, were closed because of the fire.
Reno has a population of more than ۲۸۰,۰۰۰ residents.
Washoe county emergency officials opened the Reno-Sparks Convention Center to evacuees, but said pets could not be brought there. Small and large animals were instead to be left at two other locations. Casinos in Reno offered discounts on hotel rooms to evacuees.
At least ۲۰ road closures were in effect as of Sunday afternoon.
The University of Nevada’s Reno campus remained just outside the evacuation zone on Sunday morning. The university, which had an enrollment of about ۲۴,۰۰۰ students in fall ۲۰۲۵, said officials had established an emergency response plan should conditions change. The first day of classes at the university is ۲۴ August. However, students who are new to the university were allowed to move in as early as ۱۳ August.
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The Reno-Tahoe international airport also remained outside the evacuation zone, and commercial flights were unaffected on Sunday. The smaller Reno-Stead airport was closed to general aviation traffic because of the Hawk fire but remained open to firefighting aircraft.
Authorities were also closely watching a county detention facility located several blocks from the outer edge of the evacuation warning area.
“We have those inmates in mind and we are making sure that we have plans in place in case we may have to evacuate the facility,” said Darin Balaam, the Washoe county sheriff.
The Hawk fire comes just weeks after three wildfires fueled by dry and windy conditions north of Reno forced more than ۱۳,۰۰۰ residents from their homes earlier this month, according to the Nevada national guard.
Associated Press contributed reporting
