Authorities have ordered approximately 42,000 residents to evacuate and advised another 45,000 to prepare for departure as a wildfire reached the outskirts of Reno, Nevada. The fire, which officials reported was caused by human activity, has burned approximately 10,500 acres and remains 0% contained as of Sunday evening. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County to facilitate the response.
The fire was first reported at 11:15 local time on Saturday morning. Since its inception, windy and unpredictable weather conditions have contributed to the fire's rapid spread toward the city. Officials confirmed that six people have been injured so far, including three emergency responders.
Governor Lombardo has ordered the Nevada National Guard to assist local law enforcement and firefighting crews. The Guard has deployed 72 personnel along with one Chinook and one Black Hawk helicopter to the area. Local emergency services identified approximately 13,700 homes within the immediate evacuation zone and have established two shelters to accommodate displaced residents.
The scale of the event is reflected in the 13,700 homes currently threatened within the evacuation area. The deployment of National Guard assets—including 72 personnel and heavy-lift helicopters—indicates the level of resources required to address a fire of this size. Beyond the immediate physical danger to the six injured individuals, the lack of containment means that fire boundaries and evacuation zones could shift rapidly depending on weather patterns. Residents in these areas will likely face ongoing uncertainty regarding the safety of their property and the duration of their displacement.
The emergency declaration by the governor sets a precedent for resource prioritization in Washoe County, allowing for state-level funding and military support to be funneled into the local response. The next steps for the region include the scheduled school closures on Monday and ongoing efforts by the National Guard and local fire crews to move from 0% to partial containment. The investigation into the human cause of the fire continues, though specific details regarding the origin have not yet been released. Officials have urged those in the area to remain vigilant and follow all local directives as the situation evolves.