Organizers of Burning Man issued an urgent warning to tens of thousands of revelers heading into the Nevada desert as a massive wildfire tears through communities along a key route to the festival.
Festivalgoers traveling through the Reno area are being urged to consider delaying their arrival as firefighters rush to contain the Hawk Fire, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The warning comes just days before Black Rock City is set to open in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, where tens of thousands of “Burners” are expected to descend from Aug. 30 through Sept. 7.
The journey there could prove difficult.
The Hawk Fire has burned through more than 15,000 acres northwest of Reno, destroying at least 32 homes and damaging another six as of Monday afternoon.
Some 23,000 people remained under evacuation orders, while another 40,000 had been warned to be ready to flee.
Four civilians and three firefighters have also been injured as more than 900 personnel battle the massive blaze, which was just 27% contained as of Monday.
With thousands already forced from their homes, Burning Man organizers pleaded with festivalgoers to “avoid interfering with emergency response” and show patience toward displaced residents, first responders and workers caught up in the chaos.
Travelers were also told to double-check their hotel and lodging reservations before setting off and to make supply stops well away from evacuation zones.
And organizers warned Burners not to try their luck with unofficial detours around road closures.
“Some roads, like Highway 395, have been temporarily closed, and conditions may change rapidly,” the Burning Man Project stated.
US Route 395 had reopened in both directions as of Monday, according to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, but the danger was far from over.
Some neighborhoods east of the highway remained under mandatory evacuation orders as crews continued battling the flames.
The disruption could be messy for the annual pilgrimage, with festivalgoers typically pouring through Reno to stock up on food, fuel, camping gear, and other supplies before heading north toward Black Rock City.
Meanwhile, the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, a major venue along the way, has been turned into an evacuation site for people fleeing the fire.
Burning Man organizers have not announced any plans to cancel or postpone this year’s festival.
Instead, visitors are being told to keep a close eye on conditions before hitting the road and brace for longer journeys or last-minute changes to their plans.
Read the full article here
