The rapidly growing Hawk fire sparked 42,000 evacuations in the Reno area on Aug. 23 as Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County.

“Please heed all warnings from local officials, evacuate immediately if you are ordered to do so, and do not put yourself or first responders at risk,” Lombardo wrote in a statement late on the night of Aug. 22.

The blaze, which was first reported on a trail late on the morning of Aug. 22, is burning on the slopes of Peavine Mountain, in the Sierra Nevada foothills along the Nevada–California border.

In one day, the fire spread to 13,000 acres, and Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue Chief Richard Edwards warned that conditions on Aug. 23 were likely to echo the “extreme fire conditions” firefighters faced on Aug. 22 when they first tried to contain the wildfire.

Strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation helped fuel the fire in a short period, according to a statement from Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue.

“We expect those same stronger winds to come back this afternoon and experience similar fire conditions as well and we expect that fire will also push toward the north with that weather front,” Edwards said during a news conference on the afternoon of Aug. 23.

At least three people and three first responders have sustained injuries during the first 24 hours of the fire.

Emergency teams revealed on Aug. 23 that the fire, which is zero percent contained, was human-caused but did not mention specifics.

About 45,000 additional residents were in the evacuation warning zone on Aug. 23, preparing to flee at a moment’s notice.

But Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam suggested that even people in the yellow zones—areas that are on standby for evacuation orders—should leave the area, if possible, after flames spread to a neighborhood near Reno and caused a traffic jam between citizens and emergency crews.

“Trying to get residents out while fire personnel were trying to get in causes a traffic jam, so what I ask you is this: with our wind conditions, with our fire conditions, if you’re in the yellow and you can leave, please leave. Please find a way that you can stay out of the area for the next couple of days,” Balaam said during a news conference on Aug. 23.

Balaam promised that police would secure neighborhoods, which has been a concern for locals leaving their homes.

“We will make sure you’re safe, we will make sure your neighborhoods are safe, and [make sure] those that want to take advantage of this type of situation do not go into your neighborhoods,” Balaam added.

All evacuees should expect to stay away from their homes for at least two days as crews work to contain hot spots.

“Stay informed, watch outside, have your go bag ready with all of your medications and valuables that you can put in a bag, and please be ready to go,” Balaam said.

The Red Cross helped bring hundreds of beds to an evacuation center in the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, providing more than 900 beds for those who need it.

People are not allowed to bring small pets to the evacuation center and were told to instead take them to Washoe County Regional Animal Services.

Those with large pets are told to use a Facebook page set up to help temporarily move them to a farm that has offered to help.

Casinos in the area are also offering evacuees discounted hotel rooms.

The emergency prompted Washoe County School District to cancel all classes, events, and activities at all district schools, except Gerlach K–12 School, on Aug. 24.

“The decision to close schools is due to evacuations, impacts on regional public safety resources, and to help keep roads clear for emergency vehicles,” the school wrote in a statement on Aug. 23.

The University of Reno warned students and faculty on the morning of Aug. 23 that they may face evacuations if the blaze changes direction.

“University leadership is actively monitoring the Hawk Fire and will continue to provide updates as needed,” the university wrote in a Facebook post. “Currently, the University campus is not within an evacuation zone or a ‘Get Ready’ (Yellow) evacuation zone.”

The school added that even though there is no evacuation order yet, the university has an emergency response and evacuation plan ready to go.

University officials said they would help to find students temporary housing if they are in an evacuation zone.

Meanwhile, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is making plans to move inmates from a nearby detention center.

More than 9,600 homes and businesses lost power in Washoe County on Aug. 23, according to PowerOutage.com.

“If you have been told to evacuate, please don’t wait!” said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve in an Instagram statement on Aug. 22. “Structures have already been burned in this fire and your life is more important than a building. Evacuating before the fire arrives also allows our firefighters to focus their efforts on battling the blaze.”