Fast-moving wildfire amid shifting winds threatens Reno, Nevada, forcing thousands to evacuate - NBC News
A fast-moving wildfire in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Reno, Nevada, has forced thousands to evacuate and destroyed at least 32 homes. While containment has reached 27%, officials remain concerned about shifting winds and dry conditions threatening nearby neighborhoods.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the increasing threat of wildfires to residential areas in the American West, exacerbated by climate conditions and urban expansion.
RENO, Nevada — Crews have started to contain a wildfire in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Reno, Nevada, that destroyed more than 30 homes as it spread perilously close to dense neighborhoods, officials said Monday. Containment reached 27% and there was no new growth of the Hawk Fire, which has held steady at about 23 square miles since it burned out of control on Sunday, authorities said at an afternoon news briefing. “We are making progress,” said U.S. Forest Service District Ranger Matt Zumstein. The number of residents under evacuation orders and warnings was reduced to about 63,000, down from more than 90,000 people when the blaze mushroomed over the weekend. While winds have eased, there’s still concern that gusts could push the flames through dry brush into newly developed neighborhoods in Nevada’s largest city outside of metro Las Vegas.
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