A fast-growing wildfire in the western US state of Nevada has destroyed or damaged dozens of homes and injured at least seven people as it spread towards Reno, near the Nevada-California border, authorities said.
The Hawk Fire, which broke out on Saturday, had scorched more than 15,000 acres (about 60.7 sq km) and was 27 per cent contained as of Monday, according to local fire officials.
Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Chief Richard Edwards said at a news conference on Monday afternoon that at least 32 homes had been destroyed and six others damaged.
Four civilians and three firefighters were injured in the blaze, he added.
About 90,000 residents were living in areas affected by evacuation orders and warnings, according to InciWeb, a US interagency incident information management system, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Reno Police Department said on Facebook on Monday that conditions had improved in some nearby communities, prompting authorities to downgrade evacuation orders from “Evacuate Now” to “Get Set to Evacuate”.
Officials, however, cautioned that the situation remained dynamic and could change rapidly. Residents in affected areas were urged to remain alert, monitor official updates and be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency for Washoe County on Saturday night as the fire continued to spread.
“This is an active and rapidly evolving situation, and I urge everyone in the affected areas to remain vigilant and follow the direction of local officials,” Lombardo said in a statement.
“The state is fully engaged, and we are working alongside local authorities and first responders to deploy every available resource to protect lives, safeguard communities, and keep Nevadans out of harm’s way,” he added.
The governor reiterated the warning in a social media post on Sunday, describing the wildfire as a “rapidly evolving situation” and urging people in affected areas to remain vigilant and stay informed.
Reno is the county seat and the most populous city in Washoe County.
