Nevada wildfire forces around 90,000 residents to leave or prepare for evacuation

A large wildfire that has engulfed an area near Reno, Nevada, in the United States, has reached the outskirts of the city, prompting authorities to order tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.

About 42,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes immediately, while another 45,000 have been warned to be ready to relocate. The flames were first reported on Saturday morning and have so far left six people injured, including three firefighters.

The spread of the fire has been fuelled by strong winds and unstable weather. Local authorities said the cause of the blaze is linked to human activity.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has declared a state of emergency in Washoe and ordered the deployment of the National Guard in operations to extinguish the flames and enforce the law. “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 emergency services, approximately 13,700 homes are within the evacuation perimeter. Two shelters have been opened for those forced to leave.

Reno is located in western Nevada, near the border with California, and has around 280,000 residents.