A fast-moving wildfire is closing in on homes outside Reno, Nevada.
The Hawk Fire has already burned more than 15,000 acres, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate as firefighters battle shifting winds and flames.
From the air to the ground, firefighters are racing to get the Hawk Fire under control, as it threatens more homes in northwest Reno.
“To a lot of people around here, this is their entire life, their livelihood, their entire life they’ve built for years, and we’ve never seen a fire like this,” said a Reno resident.
On Sunday, evacuees got a brief window to return home and grab more of their belongings.
“Oh my God. It was pretty tough,” said Ruby Delatorre, a Reno fire evacuee. “It was horrible, trying to get up here, trying to go to the house, you know, just trying to get stuff for me and the kids.”
Shifting winds are making the fight even tougher. The fire started early Saturday, forcing more than 42,000 to evacuate. Another 45,000 are in the ‘yellow’ zone, ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
“Oh, my gosh, I’m still scared to death,” said Teresa Lenshyn, another Reno fire evacuee. “It’s like, you don’t know if the winds are going to shift and it’s going to get worse.”
Scores of families are taking refuge in shelters.
“They’re concerned about when they can get back to their house,” said Chris Ciarlo, a Washoe County official. “They’re feeling what any human would feel and it’s the anxiety, it’s the worry, it’s the fear, it’s the stress, it’s the unknown.”
Nevada’s governor declared a state of emergency in Washoe County as the fast-moving Hawk Fire threatens communities around Reno.
“We saw the fire come down the hill,” said Ricky Williams, a Hawk Fire evacuee. “So, I gathered up all the family and we took off.”
At least six people have been injured, including three first responders.
Parts of U.S. Route 395, a major north-south highway, were also closed because of the fire.
Reno is home to about 280,000 people, making it the largest city in Nevada outside the Las Vegas metro area.
Officials say the fire was human-caused, but they haven’t said whether it was intentional or accidental.
