Hawk Fire Explodes to 15,000 Acres in Northwest Reno: State of Emergency Declared as 42,000 Ordered to Evacuate

RENO, NV — Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has declared a formal State of Emergency in Washoe County after the Hawk Fire expanded rapidly across the Peavine Peak foothills of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, burning more than 15,040 acres (over 23 square miles) with 0% containment.

The fire has destroyed multiple single-family homes and structures and left six people injured—including three first responders and three civilians. Emergency officials confirmed that the wildfire was “human-caused”, though the specific point of origin and ignition mechanism remain under investigation.

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|          HAWK FIRE STATE OF EMERGENCY DOSSIER          |
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|  - Burned Footprint: 15,040 Acres (23.5 Sq. Miles)     |
|  - Containment Level: 0% (Extreme Fire Behavior)       |
|  - Cause: Human-Caused (Under Active Investigation)    |
|  - Total Injuries: 6 (3 Civilians, 3 First Responders) |
|  - Structural Impact: Multiple Homes Destroyed         |
|  - Evacuation Mandates:                                |
|      • Level 3 "GO NOW": ~42,000 Residents (~13.7K Homes)
|      • Level 2 "SET": ~45,000 Additional Residents     |
|  - Total Displaced / Alerted: ~87,000 to 90,000 People |
|  - Personnel Assigned: ~800 Firefighters               |
|  - National Guard Deployment: 1 CH-47, 1 UH-60, 72 MPs |
|  - Primary Human Shelter: Reno-Sparks Convention Center|
|  - Major Closures: Washoe Co. Schools, Portions US-395 |
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Extreme Fire Runs and Mass Evacuations

Igniting Saturday near Hawk Meadow Trail off Somersett Parkway, the fire capitalized on heavy, desiccated brush, steep topography, and erratic canyon wind gusts. By Sunday evening, flames made high-intensity runs northeastward across Peavine Mountain toward Stead and southeastward into foothill subdivisions.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office expanded Level 3 “GO NOW” evacuation boundaries to encompass roughly 42,000 residents and 13,700 homes, extending from Somersett and Verdi to neighborhoods bordering the University of Nevada, Reno. An additional 45,000 residents are in adjacent Level 2 warning zones.

“Please get out if you can right now,” urged Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam, warning that shifting winds and dense smoke make evacuation routes increasingly treacherous.

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|               KEY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACTS               |
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|  • Highways: US-395 closed between Parr Blvd & Red Rock|
|  • Utilities: ~10,000 customers without electricity;   |
|               250 natural gas lines shut for safety    |
|  • Education: All Washoe County K-12 schools closed    |
|               (Except Gerlach); TMCC campuses closed   |
|  • Aviation: Reno-Stead Airport closed to commercial   |
|              air traffic (Reserved for firefighting)   |
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National Guard Mobilization and Federal Relief

Under the emergency declaration, the Nevada National Guard mobilized two firefighting helicopter crews—one CH-47 Chinook and one UH-60 Black Hawk—alongside 72 military police soldiers to secure checkpoints and deter looting across evacuated neighborhoods.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG), authorizing 75% federal cost-sharing for state and local suppression expenditures.

The Reno-Sparks Convention Center remains open as the primary emergency shelter for evacuees, with separate designated regional boarding centers established for small and large livestock.

Source: Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue Incident Command, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada National Guard Joint Staff, FEMA Region 9.