Massive Wildfire Hits Reno, Nevada: 90,000 Residents Ordered to Evacuate or Prepare

A massive wildfire broke out in Reno, Nevada, prompting emergency evacuation orders for approximately 42,000 residents and evacuation warnings for another 45,000.

The fire broke out on the 22nd (local time) near the Hawk Meadow Trail in northwestern Reno.

Fueled by strong winds, the flames have continued to spread, with the burned area reaching 13,000 acres (53 square kilometers).

The Hawk Fire has injured a total of six people, including three residents and three firefighters on the scene, and destroyed multiple homes and buildings.

Nevada authorities issued an immediate evacuation order, or "Go Now" directive, for 42,000 residents, while placing 45,000 others under an evacuation warning.

Major power transmission facilities were damaged by the fire, causing blackout conditions for up to 60,000 households at one point, and gas supplies were also cut off in some areas.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency for Washoe County, where Reno is located, and urgently deployed two fire helicopters and 60 personnel from the National Guard to help fight the blaze and maintain public safety.

However, firefighting efforts have faced difficulties as gusty winds cause the flames to shift direction and spread rapidly.

The current containment rate stands at 0%.

Fire authorities confirmed that the wildfire was human-caused rather than natural, but withheld specific details as an investigation is currently underway.

Located near the California border and adjacent to the resort destination Lake Tahoe, Reno is a city with a population of 280,000.

Recently, Silicon Valley executives, tech industry workers, and startups have moved there in large numbers to escape high taxes and living costs in California, leading the city to be dubbed the "second Silicon Valley."

(Photo provided by Carrie Kiefer, AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.