This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Tens of thousands of people looked set to spend another night away from home Monday as a wind-driven fire bore down on the western U.S. city of Reno. Schools were shuttered as smoke swathed the city in Nevada, near the California border and home to around 280,000 people.
Around 24,000 people were still under evacuation orders on Monday, officials said, down from more than 40,000 at its peak. Tens of thousands more have been put on alert and told to have bags ready to go at a moment's notice. The Hawk Fire began Saturday and had grown to more than 15,000 acres (6,000 hectares) by Monday, but firefighters said they had corralled the blaze along 27% of its perimeter, some of which lies just five miles (eight kilometers) northwest of Reno.
No deaths have been reported, but seven people have been injured—including three first responders. At least 32 properties have been completely destroyed and several others damaged. Officials said they expected that number to rise as firefighters were able to get to the interior of the fire.
Truckee Meadows Fire Chief Richard Edwards told a news conference Monday that the blaze was "human-caused." "We do not know if it was intentional or unintentional. So the investigators are still working through that right now. More than likely, this fire will be classified as undetermined." More than 900 firefighters were tackling the blaze, using fire engines, helicopters and bulldozers in an effort to clear the tinder-dry brush.
Teams from Australia and New Zealand were among those taking part in the effort, alongside colleagues from across the United States. Edwards earlier urged people to be ready to evacuate immediately when told to do so. "The Hawk Fire is a very dynamic incident for us as it's being driven by the winds.
The wind-driven fires move very rapidly into our residential areas," he said. "If you have been told to evacuate, please don't wait!" Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said. Master's in physics with research experience.
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