Hawk Fire: 13,000+ Acres Burn Near Reno, 42,000 Evacuated as Nevada Declares State of Emergency

Published:August 23, 2026, 11:25 AM PDT · Last updated: August 24, 2026, 6:45 AM PDT · Reviewed by Ertuğrul Öz, Certified Fire Chief & Training Specialist

A fast-moving brush fire that started on a hillside northwest of Reno exploded in size overnight, driven by strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation. By Sunday afternoon it had forced the largest evacuation the region has seen in years, closed a long stretch of U.S. 395, cut power to roughly 10,000 NV Energy customers, and prompted the deployment of Nevada National Guard helicopters to support the aerial firefighting effort.

Why the Hawk Fire Grew So Fast

Strong, gusty winds combined with low humidity and dry vegetation to push the Hawk Fire from roughly 2,500 to more than 10,500 acres in about a day.

According to Washoe County officials and the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, the fire's explosive growth was driven by a combination of strong, gusty winds, low relative humidity, and heavy dry fuel loading in the hills northwest of Reno. Those same conditions kept the fire at 0% containment as of Sunday afternoon, with officials confirming the fire was human-caused, though the exact circumstances remain under investigation. The National Weather Service said winds were expected to weaken and shift south Sunday night, which could push smoke deeper into the Reno metro area even as fire growth slows — but forecasters also warned gusts could pick back up later in the week.

Evacuations and Road Closures

Evacuation orders expanded through Saturday night and into Sunday afternoon, with the "GO NOW" zone reaching the edge of the University of Nevada, Reno campus — though the campus itself remains outside the evacuation zone, and UNR said Sunday it will hold normal classes at its main, Redfield, and Lake Tahoe campuses on Monday, August 24. By Sunday afternoon, roughly 42,000 residents were under mandatory evacuation orders and another 45,000 were under an evacuation warning, together affecting close to 90,000 people. U.S. 395 was closed in both directions between Parr Boulevard and Red Rock Road, North Virginia Street was closed between Red Rock Road and White Lake Parkway, and Reno-Stead Airport was closed to general aviation traffic (firefighting and military aircraft continued to operate). NV Energy reported roughly 10,000 customers without power in Northern Nevada after shutting off service as a safety measure in evacuation areas, and the Washoe County School District closed all schools Monday, August 24, except Gerlach K-12.

Evacuation orders pushed traffic onto U.S. 395 as the "GO NOW" zone expanded toward the University of Nevada, Reno campus overnight.

The Reno-Sparks Convention Center (Hall 4) was opened by the American Red Cross as an evacuation shelter after the Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center reached capacity. Residents with animals were directed to separate large- and small-animal shelter sites, per Washoe County's public updates.

Who's Responding

Personnel counts have varied by agency and hour as more resources arrived; Sunday updates ranged from roughly 400 to as many as 1,000 firefighters and other first responders working the Hawk Fire around the clock, on the ground and from the air. Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo mobilized the Nevada National Guard to support the response, including a CH-47 Chinook and a UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew for aerial firefighting, plus roughly 60 Guard personnel assisting local police with evacuated-neighborhood security. Officials said at least six people — three civilians and three first responders — have been injured. Some homes have burned, but officials said unsafe conditions have prevented a full damage assessment, and the number of structures destroyed or damaged remained unclear as of Sunday.

A Firefighter's Read on the Wind-Humidity-Fuel Triangle

For residents near any active wildfire perimeter, the practical takeaway is that official containment percentages can lag real fire behavior by hours, especially overnight when wind patterns shift. Evacuation orders are issued based on projected fire spread, not just current perimeter position — which is why crews urge early evacuation rather than waiting to see flames.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Hawk Fire contained?

As of Sunday afternoon, August 23, 2026, the Hawk Fire remained at 0% containment. Check the live sources below for the current figure, as this changes quickly.

What caused the Hawk Fire?

Officials said Sunday the fire was human-caused. The specific circumstances have not been released and remain under investigation.

How many people have been evacuated?

As of Sunday afternoon, roughly 42,000 residents were under mandatory evacuation orders, with another 45,000 under an evacuation warning — close to 90,000 people affected in total. These numbers may change as the fire perimeter shifts.

Is the University of Nevada, Reno affected?

The UNR campus itself is not within an evacuation zone or a "Get Ready" warning zone as of Sunday. The university said it will hold normal classes and operations at its main, Redfield, and Lake Tahoe campuses on Monday, August 24, while continuing to monitor fire and smoke conditions.

Where to Get Live Updates

• Washoe County Emergency Management (emergencywashoe.com) — official evacuation zones and shelter information.
• Perimeter Map (perimetermap.com) — near-real-time fire perimeter and evacuation zone mapping used by Washoe County officials.
• National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) — acreage and containment updates.
• Local broadcasters — KOLO 8, News 4-Fox 11, and 2 News Nevada provided rolling, on-the-ground coverage throughout the incident.
• AirNow.gov — for current smoke and air quality impacts in the Reno-Sparks area.

This article will be updated as containment increases and evacuation orders are downgraded. If you have a confirmed update from an official source, verify it against Washoe County's own evacuation map before acting on it.