US firefighters say major blaze near Reno about a quarter contained

US fire crews have reported progress in their efforts to tackle a large wildfire menacing the city of Reno, Nevada - saying the blaze is about a quarter contained. The Hawk Fire, which began on Saturday, had spread over 15,000 acres by Monday, firefighters said. Evacuation orders remain in place for 23,000 people, though other residents have now been allowed to return to their homes. Tens of thousands of other residents have been told to be ready to leave at any moment. Officials are concerned that gusts of wind could drive the flames towards more homes. Unfavourable weather conditions are forecast for the next two days, meaning the fire could continue to burn during that timeframe. No deaths have been reported, though seven people have been injured. The fire, which was first reported on Saturday morning, spread in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains near Reno due to those same windy and unpredictable weather conditions. The immediate "go now" evacuation zone and wider "get set" area - where people are being warned to prepare to evacuate - do not extend to the centre of Reno, but they do affect large urban areas and part of a highway. Large air tankers and helicopters have