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Hawk Fire surges
A human-caused brush fire known as the Hawk Fire exploded to more than 13,000 acres near Reno, Nevada, and authorities said it was zero percent contained as of Sunday afternoon.
“The fire was zero percent contained as of Sunday afternoon.”
ABC News reported that the blaze threatened hundreds of homes and that about 90,000 people had been affected, including 42,000 forced to evacuate and another 45,000 warned to be prepared to evacuate.
CNN said the uncontained Hawk Fire started Saturday and had burned some 15,000 acres just northwest of Reno, prompting emergency declarations and school cancellations for many on Monday.
Truckee Meadows Fire Chief Richard Edwards described the wind-driven spread in a video posted to social media, saying, "The wind-driven fires move very rapidly into our residential areas, creating a lot of challenges for our firefighters to save homes and protect lives."
ABC News also said about 1,000 firefighters and other first responders were battling the fire, while at least three civilians and three first responders were injured.
Evacuations and injuries
As the Hawk Fire advanced down a hillside toward residential neighborhoods near Reno, Nevada, officials urged tens of thousands to evacuate and cancel school for many on Monday.
CNN reported that around 90,000 residents were urged to evacuate and that at least two medical centers had evacuated patients, while assessments were underway to determine how many homes and other structures had been destroyed.
The Associated Press account carried by CNN included Cari Kieffer’s description of losing everything, as she told the AP, "I woke up this morning and just started crying – all my kids, they lost everything."
CNN also quoted Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Chief Richard Edwards describing wind gusts, saying, "We saw wind gusts in excess of 40 miles an hour that allowed that fire to … cover an area of almost 6 miles in less than 24 hours," and said six people were injured.
In a separate statement reported by ABC News, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo said the fire was "spreading quickly and threatening homes and structures" and declared a state of emergency for Washoe County.
Response scale and next risks
Authorities said the Hawk Fire was threatening roughly 1,000 homes and that unsafe conditions prevented a clear damage assessment, while officials kept monitoring the fire as it burned near the county detention center.
“evacuating patients from the facility "out of an abundance of caution"”
ABC News reported that Northwest Specialty Hospital in Reno announced it was evacuating patients "out of an abundance of caution," and said no patients or staff remained in the building.
Fox News said Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency for Washoe County and that about 400 firefighters and other personnel from local, state and federal agencies were working the fire Saturday night, with three helicopters set to fly overnight.
The Guardian described the GO NOW evacuation zone expanding to the edge of the University of Nevada campus, with 42,000 under strict orders and 45,000 in the evacuation warning zone, and it said the fire was human-caused but under investigation.
As the situation evolved, the Guardian quoted Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve urging immediate departure, saying, "Structures have already been burned in this fire and your life is more important than a building."