Nevada wildfire forces tens of thousands to evacuate as flames near Reno university

A wildfire dubbed the Hawk fire spread to over 13,000 acres (5,200 hectares) in the Sierra foothills and moved toward central Reno on Sunday, prompting evacuation orders for roughly 42,000 residents and placing an additional 45,000 people in a warning zone. Strong winds, low humidity and dry vegetation accelerated the blaze, which reached the perimeter of the University of Nevada, Reno campus.

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve urged residents to leave immediately, saying, "If you have been told to evacuate, please don’t wait! 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."

Washoe County officials reported three civilian and three first-responder injuries and confirmed several structures were destroyed. Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency and activated the Nevada National Guard. About 400 personnel from local, state and federal agencies, including two helicopter crews and 60 troops, were assigned to firefighting and security duties.

Power outages affected nearly 10,000 homes and businesses, and portions of U.S. Route 395 were closed. The Reno-Sparks Convention Center was opened as an evacuation shelter, though pets were directed to separate locations. Local casinos offered discounted hotel rooms to evacuees.

The University of Nevada, Reno, which enrolls about 24,000 students, remained just outside the evacuation zone and activated an emergency response plan. The Reno-Tahoe International Airport continued normal operations, while the smaller Reno-Stead airport was closed to general aviation but remained available for firefighting aircraft.

Sheriff Darin Balaam said plans were in place to evacuate a nearby county detention facility if needed. The fire follows recent wildfires that displaced more than 13,000 residents north of Reno earlier in the month.