Reno wildfire: Thousands flee as shifting winds stoke fast-moving blaze

A fast-moving wildfire in northwestern Nevada has forced thousands of residents to evacuate after it destroyed homes on the outskirts of Reno, authorities said Sunday. The blaze, called the Hawk Fire, began on Saturday and quickly expanded to more than 60 square kilometres, sweeping across the Peavine Peak area of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, where rugged foothills are ringed by homes and businesses near the California state line.

Washoe County officials said shifting winds have made the fire unpredictable, with flames jumping over fire trucks and hindering crews trying to reach hot spots. At least six people—three first responders and three civilians—were injured. Officials said the fire was human-caused but did not provide details on whether it was accidental or intentional.

As the "GO NOW" evacuation zone expanded to reach the edge of the University of Nevada, about 42,000 residents were ordered to leave. Another 45,000 people were in an adjacent evacuation warning zone, bringing the total number of people urged to prepare to leave to roughly 87,000. Authorities implored them to stay away for several days, as stronger winds were expected to make the fire even more dangerous.

"Please get out if you can right now," Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said.

For some residents, the warning came too late. Cari Kieffer said a video posted on social media showed her house entirely burned down, with only a scorched basketball hoop standing. "I woke up this morning and just started crying—all my kids, they lost everything," Kieffer said Sunday. "We lost all our stuff. Everything we own is gone." She said the family was at her son's football game when they learned their home was in the evacuation zone. An app they used to track the fire's progress lagged significantly behind its actual location, so they initially thought their neighbourhood was safe. They raced home to grab their dogs and a few belongings as ash rained down and winds blew like an oven blast from the advancing flames. Kieffer grabbed clothes, a Bible, wedding photos and her mother's ashes, but forgot birth certificates and family photographs in the frantic escape.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and mobilised the Nevada National Guard, including two helicopter crews for aerial firefighting and 60 troops to help police safeguard evacuated neighbourhoods. Around 800 fire personnel were also responding. Nearly 10,000 customers were without power in the county on Sunday, down from 60,000 on Saturday. Portions of U.S. Route 395, a major north-south highway, were closed due to the fire.

The Reno-Sparks Convention Centre was opened as an evacuation shelter, though pets were not allowed there; separate locations were designated for small and large animals. Several Reno casinos offered discounted hotel rooms to evacuees. Reno, with more than 280,000 residents, is the largest city in Nevada outside the Las Vegas metropolitan area.

Fire officials said the rugged terrain and wind conditions would continue to challenge containment efforts. Residents were advised to monitor official channels and heed evacuation orders, as the fire's future path remains uncertain. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with officials reiterating that it was human-caused without providing further details.