Hawk Fire update: At least seven injured, 24,000 remain under evacuation orders as fire contained 27%

An out-of-control wildfire in northwest Reno, Nevada, forced tens of thousands of residents to stay away from their homes for another night on Monday.

Hawk Fire contained 27 per cent, 24,000 under evacuation orders

CBS News, citing fire officials, said that as of Monday afternoon, the fire was at least 27 per cent contained, despite shifting and strong winds posing a challenge for firefighters trying to bring it under control. Roughly 90,000 residents were under evacuation orders as of Monday morning.

However, according to an AFP report, roughly 24,000 people were under evacuation orders later on Monday, officials said, adding that the number had come down from 40,000 at its peak. Additionally, tens of thousands more were put on alert and told to have bags ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

In a news conference on Monday, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Chief Richard Edwards said that some evacuation orders had been reduced, adding that residents in the Somersett area had been downgraded from “GO NOW” to “Get Set to Evacuate” status.

Edwards also noted that the blaze was “human-caused” but did not provide any details on how officials reached that conclusion. He added, “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.”

He further said, “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.”

Some fear that changing wind patterns could drive the fire into newly developed, densely populated neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Reno, Nevada’s second-largest city.

Separately, in a social media post, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office said, “This remains a dynamic situation, and conditions can change quickly,” and urged people to remain vigilant and prepared.

Schools remained closed on Monday and will also be shut on Tuesday amid evacuations and to keep roads clear for emergency crews, CBS News reported.

Hawk Fire in Reno: Here’s what we know

The Hawk Fire, which broke out on August 22, had spread across more than 15,000 acres (6,000 hectares) by Monday. Over the weekend, the fire spread through the Peavine Peak area of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, where rugged foothills are surrounded by homes and businesses near the California state line.

On August 23, authorities said the fire had stayed within its footprint, while firefighters worked to extinguish hotspots and prevent the flames from crossing a major highway into areas with homes and businesses.

While no fatalities have been reported so far, seven people were reported injured, including three first responders. At least 32 properties were destroyed, and several others were damaged. However, officials said the number is expected to rise as firefighters were able to reach the interior of the fire.

More than 900 firefighters were working to contain the blaze, using fire engines, helicopters and bulldozers to clear the tinder-dry brush. Teams from Australia and New Zealand were also assisting, along with firefighters from across the United States.

In Washoe County, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency and deployed the Nevada National Guard to support aerial firefighting with two helicopter crews, as well as 60 troops to help police safeguard evacuated neighbourhoods.

On Monday, roughly 10,000 people were left without power in Washoe County, according to reports, down from 60,000 on August 22.

The surge in wildfire activity has heightened concerns over the worsening dry and unstable conditions contributing to fires across the US. Earlier this month, three wildfires north of Reno, fuelled by hot, dry and windy weather, forced more than 13,000 people to evacuate their homes, according to the Nevada National Guard.