Tens of thousands of people near Reno, Nevada, have been ordered to leave their homes as the wildfire pushed to the edge of the city.

About 42,000 residents were told to evacuate immediately, while a further 45,000 people were advised to prepare to leave, according to local officials.

The fire was first reported on Saturday morning and has damaged properties and prompted emergency measures across Washoe County.

Evacuation Orders Cover Parts Of Reno Area

The Washoe emergency information centre said around 15,000 acres have burned. As of Sunday evening, no part of the fire’s perimeter had been contained.

Local emergency services said 13,700 homes were within the evacuation area. Two shelters have been set up for displaced residents.

The “go now” evacuation zone and the wider “get set” area, where residents are being warned to prepare to leave, do not extend into the centre of Reno. However, they affect large urban areas and part of a highway.

Roughly six people have been injured so far, officials said. Three of those hurt were emergency responders working on the fire.

Picture courtesy of BBC

State Emergency And National Guard Deployment

Nevada’s Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and ordered the National Guard to support firefighting and law enforcement efforts.

Lombardo said the situation was active and changing quickly, and urged people in affected areas to stay alert and follow guidance from local authorities.

The fire was caused by humans, local officials said. It was first reported at 11:15 local time (18:15 GMT) on Saturday.

Schools Closed, Roads Shut, Air Support Deployed

Washoe County schools will close on Monday, except for one. Mass road closures are in place, emergency services said.

Authorities have been using large air tankers and helicopters to drop water and fire retardants over the area.

The fire has been named the Hawk Fire because it was first reported near the Hawk Meadow Trail, to the west of Reno. Officials have said it began on Saturday and has grown under windy and unpredictable weather conditions, which have contributed to its spread.

Reno, in western Nevada, sits close to the California state line and has a population of about 280,000.

The University of Nevada in Reno said regular campus operations would continue, although the university is monitoring the situation. Its main campus is in the city, just outside but near the “get set” warning area.

Wildfires are common in south-western US states, including Nevada, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The agency said there are currently three large fires in Nevada, out of 79 nationwide.

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24 August 2026

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I pray they had time to cash in their chips !