Firefighters Battle Nevada's Hawk Wildfire Near Reno; 27% Contained, 23,000 Ordered to Evacuate

Reno: The Hawk wildfire near Reno, Nevada, was 27% contained on Monday as firefighters continued battling the fast-moving blaze that has burned more than 15,000 acres and forced tens of thousands of residents to leave their homes.

Authorities said about 23,000 have been ordered to evacuate, while another 40,000 were had been warned that they might have to leave at notice. The figures marked an improvement from the roughly 90,000 people who were under evacuation orders or warnings earlier in the day.

More than 900 personnel have been deployed to fight the fire, The Guardian reported, citing Richard Edwards, chief of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District. Officials have so far confirmed that 32 homes were destroyed and another six damaged, though the figures could rise as assessment teams continue surveying affected areas.

No deaths have been reported so far. Authorities said four civilians and three firefighters have suffered injuries, while canine teams are expected to search the affected areas.

The fire started northwest of Reno on Saturday and rapidly spread through foothill communities amid strong winds and extreme fire behaviour.

Officials confirmed that the fire was caused by an individual, although it remains unclear whether it was accidental or deliberate. The Reno area has experienced three major wildfires over the past two weeks, all of which authorities attributed to different individuals.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and urged residents to remain alert as conditions continued to change rapidly.

The fire also disrupted daily life in the county. Almost all schools in Washoe County were closed Monday to keep roads available for emergency responders, while the school district said classes would remain cancelled on Tuesday. The University of Nevada, Reno, continued operating despite the wildfire.

Power outages affected nearly 10,000 homes and businesses. NV Energy deployed 11 crews to restore electricity as evacuation restrictions are lifted. The New York Times has reported that throughout Monday, power had been restored to about 3,000 households, leaving 6,000 still without electricity.

Fire officials said the blaze had been particularly difficult to control after rapidly shifting winds caused flames to change direction and jump over fire engines during the initial response. Around 800 additional personnel, including firefighters from Australia and New Zealand, were supporting the firefighting effort. The national Guard and local poilce are also taking part in the rescue efforts.

Neighbouring California has also mobilised local fire agencies to assist Nevada under an emergency cooperation agreement.

The wildfire comes amid an intense fire season across the western United States. More than 50,000 wildfires have been recorded across the country this year, burning over 7.8 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.