Nevada: At least 90,000 people evacuated or threatened by the Hawk fire in Reno

No deaths have been reported, but at least six people were injured, including three rescuers, and several houses on the mountaintops were destroyed, according to local media.

Nevada authorities urged tens of thousands of people to evacuate and ordered schools closed Monday as a wildfire, fanned by strong winds, rapidly approached the city of Reno in the western United States.

About 42,000 people have already been forced to leave their homes and another 45,000 have been ordered to be ready to leave, Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve told CNN.

All schools in Washoe County, where Reno is located, will remain closed on Monday, with the exception of one school, officials said.

The Hawk fire started on Saturday and had spread over 6,091 hectares by Sunday evening, exhibiting "extreme behavior," according to InciWeb, a U.S. government website that tracks fire activity.

The fire was progressing 8 kilometers northwest of Reno, a metropolitan area of more than 280,000 inhabitants, according to 2025 census data.

No deaths have been reported, but at least six people were injured, including three rescuers, and several houses located on the mountaintops were destroyed, according to local media.

Officials indicated that the fire was "of human origin," without specifying how it started.

A local fire service indicated that approximately 800 people were involved in the firefighting operations, including teams from Australia and New Zealand.

Photos published on X by firefighters showed flames and huge columns of smoke above the mountains overlooking the city.

Governor Joe Lombardo has declared a state of emergency in Washoe County.

In his order, he emphasizes that the Hawk Fire "is spreading rapidly and threatening homes and buildings."

Local fire chief Richard Edwards urged residents to be ready to evacuate immediately if ordered to do so.