Hawk Fire near Reno destroys over 30 homes, 27% contained
Firefighters have contained 27% of the Hawk Fire that burned more than 30 homes in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Reno, while evacuation orders have been reduced to about 63,000 people.
Crews have begun to contain the Hawk Fire that erupted in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Reno, Nevada, after it destroyed at least 32 homes and damaged six more, officials said Monday. The blaze, which has burned roughly 23 square miles (60 square kilometers) since it surged out of control on Sunday, was 27% contained and showed no new growth, according to a news briefing.
U.S. Forest Service District Ranger Matt Zumstein said, "We are making progress." The number of residents under evacuation orders fell to about 63,000 from more than 90,000 earlier in the weekend as winds eased, though officials warned that gusts could still carry embers into newly developed neighborhoods.
Washoe County schools were closed on Monday to keep roads clear for emergency responders, and Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency, activating the National Guard for aerial firefighting and protection of evacuated areas northwest of downtown Reno.
Sheriff Darin Balaam acknowledged residents' frustration at roadblocks, noting that the danger remains because a light breeze can reignite the fire. At least seven people, including three first responders, have been injured.
Fire officials said the recent series of large wildfires north of Reno, including the Hawk Fire, were caused by human activity, though they have not confirmed whether the latest blaze was intentional or accidental.
The western edge of Nevada faces heightened wildfire risk this week due to strong winds and low humidity, the National Interagency Fire Center reported. Similar conditions have driven a surge of wildfires across the western United States this summer, with more than 50,000 fires recorded nationwide, the highest number in a decade.