Unconfirmed reports of homes destroyed by Nevada wildfire

Firefighters have made progress containing a fast-moving wildfire that tore through the hills northwest of Reno, Nevada, over the weekend, after flames destroyed dozens of homes and forced tens of thousands of residents to flee, according to multiple news outlets. The blaze, known as the Hawk Fire, ignited Saturday near Verdi, a small community just miles from the California border, and quickly grew into one of the most destructive fires to hit the Reno area in years.

By Monday afternoon, officials said the fire had destroyed 32 homes and damaged six more, mostly in the North Valleys area, according to 2news.com. During a live fire briefing on Monday, officials announced that 32 homes have been destroyed while another six are damaged, mostly in the North Valleys area. Fire officials said they expect to see more damage as assessment teams gather information, the outlet reported. CNN similarly reported that officials said 32 homes were destroyed and six were damaged as of Monday afternoon, though additional businesses and residential structures have been damaged and the exact number is expected to rise in the coming days.

The fire's rapid growth caught many residents off guard. According to the Associated Press, as carried by KTLA, videos posted on social media showed the smoldering ruins of homes and cars, with only a scorched basketball hoop still standing. One woman whose home was destroyed described the scene to the AP, saying she saw a video posted online showing her house on the outskirts of Reno had burned, according to CNN, which reported that Cari Kieffer saw a video posted on social media that showed her house on Reno's outskirts had burned down, with only a scorched basketball hoop still standing, she told The Associated Press on Sunday. Another resident, quoted by the AP via KTLA, recalled the shock of the fire's speed, saying "Honestly, I thought it was like in a movie."

At its peak, the fire forced an extraordinary evacuation effort. CNN reported that around 87,000 people in parts of Reno and Nevada's Washoe County – just under a fifth of the county's population of 500,000 – were urged over the weekend to evacuate, and at least two medical centers have evacuated patients. The Associated Press, via KTLA, put the number even higher at points, reporting that the out-of-control fire has already burned some homes, but there's concern that shifting winds could push the flames into newly developed and densely packed neighborhoods on the edge of Nevada's second-biggest city. Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency for the area, and CNN reported that he declared an emergency in Washoe County, which includes Reno and parts of Lake Tahoe, and activated the Nevada National Guard.

The fire, which burned close to the state line, drew attention from officials on both sides of the border. CNN noted that the fire is burning just miles from the Nevada-California state line, prompting officials in both states to monitor it closely. ABC10 reported that the blaze was the third large wildfire in the rugged terrain north of Reno in the past two weeks — all caused by human activity, according to fire officials. Fire officials have said the Hawk Fire was human-caused, though, as ABC10 reported, at least six people — three first responders and three civilians — have been injured and the exact origin has not been disclosed.

By Monday, firefighters appeared to be gaining the upper hand. ABC10 reported that containment reached 27% and there was no new growth of the Hawk Fire, which has held steady at about 23 square miles (60 square kilometers) since Sunday, authorities said at an afternoon news briefing. Evacuation orders were also being scaled back, with ABC10 noting that the number of residents under evacuation orders and warnings was reduced to about 63,000, down from more than 90,000 people over the weekend. Still, officials cautioned that the danger was not over. Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam told reporters, according to ABC10, that "It just takes that little breeze and one ember."

Utility disruptions and school closures also rippled through the region. Nevada Current reported that residents could find updated information through official channels, noting that Washoe County said residents can get up to date information about the fire, resources and evacuations at EmergencyWashoe.com, and that the latest evacuation updates were also available through a county perimeter map. The outlet added that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients who lost food due to the wildfires have until Aug. 28 to report the loss and request replacement benefits through the Nevada Division of Social Services.

Damage assessment teams remain in the field, and officials have said the full scope of destruction is still being tallied as crews continue working to fully contain the fire and allow displaced residents to return home.