Authorities in the United States have confirmed that a fast-moving wildfire near Reno, Nevada, was started by human activity, after the blaze forced tens of thousands of people from their homes. Known as the Hawk Fire and burning in Washoe County, the fire has driven more than 42,000 residents out of their neighborhoods and left at least six people injured. Officials warned that the danger is far from over even as crews made progress overnight.
The fire behaved with alarming speed once it took hold. Fanned by strong winds, it grew quickly and at times sent flames leaping over fire trucks, making it extremely difficult for firefighters to reach and knock down hot spots. Crews described a chaotic scene on Saturday night as the fire advanced while residents were still trying to get out, complicating both the firefight and the evacuation.
Beyond the tens of thousands already ordered to leave, roughly 45,000 additional people have been placed under a be-prepared-to-evacuate status, meaning they may have to flee at short notice if the fire shifts. Emergency officials urged those residents to stay alert and ready to move, stressing that conditions could change rapidly through the afternoon depending on the weather.
The fire also knocked out electricity across a wide area. NV Energy said about 60,000 customers had initially lost power, a number that favorable overnight weather helped bring down to around 10,000, concentrated in the Silver Lake, Stead and Lemon Valley areas, along with some 250 gas customers south and west of U.S. 395. The utility explained that several critical transmission facilities sat directly in the fire's path, forcing outages to spread well beyond the immediate burn zone in order to keep the grid stable.
The utility also warned that worsening weather could meet the criteria for further emergency de-energizations, in which power is deliberately cut to prevent equipment from sparking new fires or worsening existing ones. Crews said any area directly threatened by the fire should expect to remain without power for an extended period, in line with guidance from fire and police officials on the ground.
State leaders moved quickly to marshal resources. Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency and issued a disaster declaration, authorizing the deployment of two National Guard helicopters to fight the fire from the air along with 60 National Guard personnel to support security operations alongside the Washoe County Sheriff's Office. The state also surged ambulances into the area, activated its Emergency Operations Center at full capacity, and had the Department of Corrections stand ready to help evacuate a corrections facility if it became necessary. Federal support followed, with FEMA approving a fire management assistance grant to help fund the response.
Officials placed the fire in the context of a punishing season across Nevada. The state forester said that roughly 400,000 acres had already burned statewide this year across some 600 fire starts, with more than 15 new starts recorded in a single day and the state only about halfway through its fire season. Emergency managers thanked first responders for what they called heroic actions overnight to save homes, while cautioning residents that although the scene might look calm, the hazards in fire-struck neighborhoods remained very real.