Plumes of smoke seen over Reno as thousands evacuate due to wildfires
Fire crews are still working to contain a large wildfire that has forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate near Reno, Nevada on Monday.
The fire, which continues to burn on the outskirts of the city, has claimed over 15,000 acres (61 sq km) of land, injured seven people, and destroyed 32 homes.
By Monday afternoon (local time), officials said they had made progress and controlled 27% of the blaze, but evacuation orders are still in place for 23,000 residents. About 40,000 more have been told to be ready to leave at any moment.
Officials warned that the fire is expected to burn for two more days – and said there was no timeline for people to return to their homes.
The fire, which was first reported on Saturday morning, has spread in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains near Reno due to windy and unpredictable weather conditions.
The immediate "go now" evacuation zone and wider "get set" area – where people are being warned to prepare to evacuate – do not extend to the centre of Reno, but do affect large urban areas and part of a highway.
Chief Richard Edwards of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, said the seven injured include four civilians and three firefighters, who suffered minor burns.
He added that 32 homes have been destroyed and six damaged, with those numbers expected to increase. Shelters have been set up in the area to take in displaced residents.
While firefighters have made progress, more than two-thirds of the fire's perimeter remains uncontained. Conditions can change quickly, with wind in particular still posing a risk, officials said.
Nevada's Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and ordered the National Guard to join firefighting and law enforcement efforts.
"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," he said.
Firefighters from Australia and New Zealand also took part in the containment effort – as well as crews from 15 US states.
According to local officials, the fire was caused by humans and first reported at 11:15 local time (18:15 GMT) on Saturday. Edwards confirmed on Monday that investigators do not yet know if the blaze was set intentionally.
The Nevada National Guard said 72 personnel, one Chinook and one Black Hawk helicopter had joined the response
