Fueled by strong winds, the growing Hawk fire spread from the Sierra foothills threatening the northwest flank of Reno on Sunday morning, forcing thousands of evacuations.
By 8 a.m., the blaze had covered at least 10,522 acres in the area north of Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border, prompting local evacuation orders and establishment of evacuation centers in Reno, including the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
The Associated Press reported that 14,000 homes had been ordered evacuated.
Fire evacuation warning zones had reached within 1,000 feet of University of Nevada, Reno campus, where 24,000 students are due to begin fall classes on Monday.
The fire began Saturday and grew quickly. Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, based in Washoe County, Nev., reported about 400 firefighters working on the fire, including local, state and federal agencies.
The efforts included three helicopters flying Saturday night. In a statement, the Truckee district said the fire was “fueled by strong, gusty winds, low humidity and dry vegetation.”
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office reported that portions of U.S. Route 395 had been closed.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County late Saturday, saying that the fire “is spreading quickly and threatening homes and structures.” Reno Mayor Hilary Schieve urged residents to comply with evacuation orders, adding that “structures have already been burned in this fire and your life is worth more than a building.”
Roughly 10,000 residences and businesses in the Reno area were reported to be without power Sunday morning. A 92-degree high was expected in Reno Sunday.
As of 8:45 a.m. Sunday, Reno-Stead Airport, just north of the blaze, had been closed, but Reno-Tahoe International Airport remained open.
The Hawk fire is part of a busy fire season in the region. Over the last two weeks, firefighters have been battling the Bug fire, which began Aug. 10 and had burned 93,733 acres and was 94% contained on Sunday morning, according to Watch Duty. The nearby Stallion fire, which began Aug. 11, had burned 40,691 acres and was 98% contained.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The post Thousands evacuated as Hawk fire burns over 10,000 acres near Reno appeared first on Los Angeles Times.
