Rapidly Spreading Hawk Fire Forces Thousands to Evacuate Near Reno, Nevada

Smoke rises from the Hawk Fire on August 22, 2026 in Reno, Nevada, the United States [Simon Jowitt/Reuters]. A rapidly growing wildfire has forced nearly 14,000 homes to be evacuated as it spreads from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains toward Reno in northwest Nevada, expanding to more than 4,450 hectares (10,500 acres).

Named the Hawk Fire because it originated near the Hawk Meadow Trail near Reno, the blaze began on Saturday and intensified significantly throughout the day. According to Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue in Reno—a specialised professional fire and rescue agency in Washoe County, Nevada, the United States—the fire was driven by strong, gusty winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation. By Sunday, nearly 10,000 homes and businesses were without power in the county.

“The Hawk Fire is a very dynamic incident for us, as it’s being driven by the winds,” said Richard Edwards, chief of the agency, in a video posted to social media. “If you have been told to evacuate, please don’t wait!”

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve issued a statement late Saturday night on social media, noting that structures had “already been burned in this fire, and your life is more important than a building.” She added, “Evacuating before the fire arrives also allows our firefighters to focus their efforts on battling the blaze.”

The fire zone represents a high risk due to its proximity to homes and residential neighbourhoods. By Sunday morning, the “GO NOW” emergency evacuation zone reached the edge of the University of Nevada Reno campus, where approximately 24,000 students were enrolled last fall. University officials have prepared an emergency response plan should conditions shift.

Washoe County emergency officials opened the Reno-Sparks Convention Center for evacuees, though pets could not be accommodated there, as small and large animals were designated for two separate locations. Additionally, casinos in Reno offered discounted hotel rooms to those displaced.

Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue stated that approximately 400 personnel are actively managing the incident, utilising ground crews and air resources from local, state, and federal agencies. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency for Washoe County and deployed the Nevada National Guard to assist with aerial firefighting, supplying more than two helicopter crews and 60 troops to help police secure evacuated neighborhoods in Reno, a city with a population exceeding 280,000.

Local resident Tyler Duvall told The Associated Press that the fire felt so mild on Saturday morning that it was not “even a concern.” By the following day, however, his home was inside the evacuation zone and inaccessible. “The wind really blew it up,” he said, noting that houses about a mile (1.6 km) from his property had burned. Commercial flights at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport remained unaffected as of Sunday.

Ted Melden, a retired police officer and firefighter who recently moved to Reno from South Carolina with his wife earlier this month, has already encountered multiple weather events. Having survived a severe hailstorm, a sudden flood, two power outages, and now his second local wildfire in two weeks, Melden told The Associated Press, “I’m hoping they’ll get a good handle on it. You just have to roll with the flow and be ready. Always be prepared and have a full tank of gas.”