Nearly 90,000 told to evacuate as wildfire approaches Reno, Nevada

What the report says

Authorities near Reno, Nevada, have ordered widespread evacuations as a fast-moving wildfire spread to the edge of the city, according to BBC World News. The evacuation orders cover about 42,000 people who must leave immediately, while another 45,000 have been told to prepare to go. Local officials said the blaze had injured six people and was still completely uncontained.

BBC reported that the fire was first discovered on Saturday morning and had grown to roughly 10,500 acres by Sunday evening. Windy and shifting weather conditions have made firefighting more difficult. Officials also said the fire was caused by human activity, though the report did not specify how it started.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and directed the National Guard to assist with firefighting and law enforcement. The response included air support and dozens of personnel, while local emergency services set up two shelters for displaced residents. About 13,700 homes were within the evacuation zone, and all Washoe County schools were set to close on Monday except one.

The incident matters because Reno is a major population center in western Nevada, near the California border, and the fire’s rapid spread has prompted mass displacement, road closures and a large emergency response.