A rapidly expanding wildfire burning on the outskirts of Reno, Nevada has forced emergency officials to issue mandatory evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents, as dangerous fire conditions continue to push the blaze closer to populated areas. Video footage captured from the region shows thick plumes of dark smoke billowing into the sky over the Reno metropolitan area, with visible flames advancing through dry brush and vegetation that have primed the landscape for explosive fire growth this season. Local emergency management agencies activated their full response protocols immediately after the fire broke out, urging residents in at-risk zones to leave their homes quickly and relocate to designated emergency shelters set up across the region. The evacuation orders cover multiple residential neighborhoods on Reno’s northern and western edges, affecting tens of thousands of people who have been told not to return until fire crews have fully contained the blaze. Officials have warned that warm temperatures, low humidity and strong gusty winds are creating extremely challenging conditions for fire crews working to slow the fire’s advance, and have asked the public to avoid the affected area to let emergency responders do their work safely. This wildfire is the latest in a string of large blazes burning across the western United States, where prolonged drought and a warming climate have lengthened the wildfire season and increased the risk of extreme fire events.
Watch: Wildfire seen near Reno as tens of thousands told to evacuate
