Tens of thousands of people have been asked to evacuate an area near Reno, Nevada in the US, after a massive wildfire raging in the area reached the outskirts of the city.
About 42,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes immediately, while another 45,000 have been advised to prepare to evacuate. The fire, which was first reported on Saturday morning, has so far injured six people, including three firefighters, officials said. Strong winds and unpredictable weather conditions have contributed to its spread.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe and has ordered the National Guard to join the firefighting and law enforcement efforts. “ This is an active and rapidly evolving situation, so I urge everyone in the affected areas to remain vigilant and follow the instructions of local authorities ,” he said.
According to local authorities, the fire was caused by human error. Local emergency services said that about 13,700 homes were within the evacuation zone, while two shelters had been set up for displaced residents.
Reno, in western Nevada, is located near the state border with California and has a population of about 280,000.