Firefighters pack their truck after responding Sunday at a burned building in Reno
90,000 face evacuation as Nevada fire spreads
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- Nearly 90,000 people face evacuation as the Hawk Fire spreads.
- The fast-moving blaze has burned over 15,000 acres.
Nearly 90,000 northern Nevada residents have been ordered to evacuate or prepare to evacuate Sunday as a rapid, uncontained wildfire approaches the outskirts of Reno.
The blaze, named the Hawk Fire, broke out on Saturday morning in the Peavine Peak area near the California border and quickly grew to over 15,000 acres (23 square miles). Fueled by extreme dry-flag winds, the fire has injured at least six people, including three first responders, and destroyed multiple residential buildings.
Authorities issued mandatory "GO NOW" evacuation orders for approximately 42,000, while another 45,000 people remain under evacuation warnings.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County, mobilizing National Guard troops and aerial firefighting units to assist ground crews battling zero-containment conditions.
While local officials confirmed the blaze was sparked by human activity, the ongoing spread has been driven by severe weather conditions and prolonged drought across the region.
Read more: ‘Israeli’ tourist arrested in Greece over wildfire sparked by BBQ
Climate change fueling fires
The rapid escalation of the Hawk Fire reflects a broader, accelerating trend across the southwestern United States, where human-induced climate change is creating hyper-flammable environmental conditions.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says rising temperatures, prolonged heatwaves, and changing rainfall patterns have made Nevada much drier. The dry vegetation can easily catch fire, allowing small fires to quickly spread and become difficult to control.
