Nevada National Guard responds to Hawk Fire near Reno

The Nevada National Guard has deployed helicopters and troops to assist efforts to evacuate citizens in the path of fast-spreading Nevada wildfire northwest of Reno.

The Hawk Fire started on Saturday morning. At least six people — three first responders and three civilians — have been injured, and thousands were ordered to evacuate.

Flight and support crews for one CH-47 Chinook and one UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter are helping with aerial bucket drops, and 60 Nevada National Guard Response Force troops are assisting police with neighborhood security and evacuations.

The blaze was “human-caused,” the U.S. Forest Service said.

Officials on Monday reported that crews have made progress in holding back the spread of the fire.

Almost 90,000 residents have been affected by the fire — 42,000 who are under orders to evacuate and another 45,000 on alert to leave their residences, according to Bloomberg News. More than 1,000 first responders, including some 800 fire personnel, were working to contain the blaze.

Extremely dry conditions across the American West have sparked a rash of wildfires this summer. Fires in eastern Washington state forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area in early August.