Hawk Fire in US Rages On, Burns 10,500 Acres in Nevada, Forces Mass Evacuations

Hawk Fire in US Rages On, Burns 10,500 Acres in Nevada, Forces Mass Evacuations

A fast-moving wildfire in the western United States has exploded to over 10,500 acres near Reno, Nevada, forcing thousands to flee their homes as firefighters battle the blaze with zero containment.

RENO, Nevada, US – The Hawk Fire, a rapidly growing wildfire in the western United States, has expanded to cover more than 10,500 acres in Nevada as of late Saturday evening, with firefighters reporting zero containment and challenging conditions driven by gusty winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation. The blaze ignited around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026, off the Hawk Meadow Trail near the Somersett community in the foothills of northwest Reno. By mid-afternoon, the fire had grown to approximately 2,500 to 3,000 acres. By 8:30 p.m. Saturday, mapping platform Perimeter Map reported the fire had expanded to at least 10,523 acres.

Approximately 400 personnel from local, state, and federal agencies are currently battling the blaze in the US state of Nevada, with ground crews and air resources deployed to contain the fire. The Nevada National Guard is supporting aerial firefighting operations, deploying one CH-47 Chinook and one UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew to assist with firefighting efforts. An additional 60 Nevada National Guard Response Force personnel have been called in to support local law enforcement in protecting evacuated neighbourhoods. Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Chief Richard Edwards described the situation as “a very dynamic incident” driven by the wind, noting that “wind-driven fires move very rapidly into our residential areas, creating a lot of challenges for our firefighters to save homes and protect lives.”

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Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has declared a state of emergency in Washoe County as the Hawk Fire continues its rapid spread across the US state. “I have declared a state of emergency in Washoe County as we respond to the Hawk Fire, which is spreading quickly and threatening homes and structures,” Lombardo said. “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.” Under the declaration, all state agencies are directed to work through the Nevada Emergency Operations Center to supplement local response efforts. “This is an active and rapidly evolving situation, and I urge everyone in the affected areas to remain vigilant and follow the direction of local officials,” Lombardo continued. “The state is fully engaged, and we are working alongside local authorities and first responders to deploy every available resource to protect lives, safeguard communities, and keep Nevadans out of harm’s way.” Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve confirmed that structures have already been burned in the fire and urged residents to prioritise their safety. “Structures have already been burned in this fire and your life is more important than a building,” Schieve said in a message posted by the City of Reno on X.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office has issued mandatory “Go Now” evacuation orders for several neighbourhoods as the fire continues to spread. Evacuations have expanded southward, affecting the Somersett community, including areas north of Somersett Parkway to Robb Drive, as well as neighborhoods in northwest Reno. Communities from Raleigh Heights to Red Rock on the west side of U.S. Highway 395 have been instructed to evacuate immediately. U.S. Highway 395 in Washoe County has been closed in both directions between Parr Boulevard and Red Rock Road due to the fire’s proximity. Rancho San Rafael Park has also been closed as the fire continues to spread. The fire has also prompted evacuation warnings in Sierra County, California, as authorities continue to monitor its movement toward the state line between Nevada and California.

An evacuation centre has been established at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, located at 4590 South Virginia Street, Reno. The Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, which initially served as an evacuation site, quickly reached maximum capacity, prompting the establishment of the secondary shelter at the convention center. Small animals can be taken to Washoe County Regional Animal Services on Longley Lane, while no evacuation centre is currently available for large animals.

The blaze has severely disrupted regional infrastructure, causing widespread power outages that impacted tens of thousands of utility customers across the US state. Emergency de-energization of transmission lines by NV Energy cut electricity to more than 37,000 customers in the Truckee and North Lake Tahoe region. The rapid advancement of the fire also forced the temporary closure of the ER at North Valleys, where healthcare workers scrambled to safely transfer patients to alternative regional facilities.

Significant resources have been mobilised to fight the fire, including air tankers and helicopters. Requests for Cal Fire support have been initiated, and “substantial resources” have been diverted from the nearly-contained Bug Fire to assist with the Hawk Fire. The Bug Fire, located just north of the Hawk Fire, was 94% contained as of Friday, while the nearby Stallion Fire was 98% contained as of Friday. Weather conditions remain challenging, with a Red Flag Warning extending across northern Washoe County toward the California and Oregon borders, increasing the risk of rapid fire growth and spot fires.