Fast-moving wildfire forces thousands to evacuate near Reno, Nevada

The human-caused Hawk Fire broke out near Hawk Meadow Trail on the outskirts of Reno, Nevada on August 22 and rapidly grew to more than 15,000 acres amid strong winds and dry conditions, forcing evacuation orders for up to 42,000 residents with another 45,000 warned to be ready to leave, according to Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue. By August 24 the fire was about 27% contained, with 32 homes destroyed and six damaged; seven people -- four civilians and three firefighters -- were injured with minor burns, though no deaths were reported. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and activated the National Guard, deploying helicopter crews and about 60 troops, while roughly 400 firefighting personnel, including crews from 15 US states and international teams from Australia and New Zealand, worked the blaze; nearly 10,000 homes and businesses lost power at the fire's peak.

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve urged residents not to delay evacuating, warning that 'your life is more important than a building,' while officials opened the Reno-Sparks Convention Center and other shelters for displaced residents. Some locals, like Justin Davis, used personal water trucks to defend their homes as flames approached, while others, including University of Nevada students, described the scene as 'apocalyptic.' Investigators confirmed the fire was human-caused but had not determined by Monday whether it was intentionally set; officials and climate scientists noted Reno's average temperature has risen more than 4 degrees Celsius since the 1970s, faster than any other major US city, contributing to increasingly severe wildfire conditions in the region.