Nevada Wildfire Destroys Homes, Forces 90,000 Evacuations Near Reno

A massive, rapidly growing wildfire has forced the evacuation of 90,000 people in and around Reno, NV.

The Hawk Fire, which is concentrated just south of the Reno Stead Airport and northwest of Reno, was first reported on Saturday. Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Shane Akerson said the fire is believed to be caused by human behavior, but the cause is under investigation.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County — which contains Reno and parts of Lake Tahoe — following reports of the blaze, calling the fire an “active and rapidly evolving situation.” He ordered the evacuation of 42,000 people and advised another 45,000 to begin preparing to leave.

Classes at Washoe County schools have been canceled and two local hospitals have evacuated patients. The University of Nevada, Reno, remains in session.

So far, around 15,000 acres have reportedly burned, and dozens of homes have been destroyed.

On Sunday, local photographer Craig Philpott surveyed the devastation as he drove around Reno’s Seneca Drive area, near the base of Peavine Peak. Dozens of structures smoldered in the aftermath of the blaze.

Hot, dry 40 mph winds fueled the fire’s path of destruction, pushing it across a six-mile expanse overnight and creating what Reno Fire Department Chief David Cochran told CNN was “erratic” behavior.

“If the winds don’t drop, the temperature doesn’t drop, and you’re getting that erratic fire behavior, it just makes it harder to get your arms around a fire of this size and this magnitude,” Cochran said.

Three civilians and three firefighters have been injured so far, but there have been no reported deaths related to the blaze.

An analysis from climate risk research firm First Street found that more than 88% of homes in Reno face a major risk of wildfire damage over the next 30 years, thanks to rising temperatures and highly flammable invasive grasses like cheatgrass, sagebrush, and juniper.

Developing story, more to follow.

Julie Gerstein is a writer and editor based in Philadelphia. She previously worked at Business Insider as an executive editor covering news, entertainment, and digital culture, and was the company’s founding Singapore bureau chief. She was also a senior editor at BuzzFeed, covering lifestyle, fashion, and beauty. She earned a B.A. in women’s studies from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. in media and cultural studies from the University of Sussex.