Hawk Fire near Reno reaches 15,000 acres and forces 42,000 evacuations

The Hawk Fire on Peavine Peak northwest of Reno, Nevada, has grown to more than 15,000 acres since it started on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Officials confirmed it is human-caused and remains zero percent contained as of Sunday evening.

Washoe County authorities ordered 42,000 residents to evacuate immediately. Another 45,000 sit in a warning zone prepared to leave. The blaze has destroyed multiple structures. Exact counts of homes lost remain unavailable because investigators cannot yet enter the burn areas safely.

Three firefighters and three civilians suffered injuries. Roughly 800 personnel are assigned to the incident. Two helicopter crews support aerial operations, and 60 National Guard troops assist with traffic and security in evacuated neighborhoods.

Shifting winds and low humidity drove the rapid spread. A red-flag warning was in effect across western Nevada and parts of California on Saturday, with southwest winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour and gusts to 40. Humidity dropped as low as 18 percent. The fire jumped containment lines and forced firefighters to adjust tactics repeatedly.

Reno Stead Airport closed to general aviation. Northern Nevada Health Systems evacuated and shut its North Valleys emergency room. Rancho San Rafael Regional Park remains closed. The evacuation zone reaches the edge of the University of Nevada, Reno campus, and officials are watching the Washoe County Jail closely.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency on Saturday night. Power outages affected as many as 60,000 customers at the peak; the number fell to about 10,000 by Sunday. The fire cost estimate already stands at several million dollars and continues to rise.

Battalion Chief Shane Akerson of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District said the cause is under active investigation. No further details on the ignition source have been released. Dry short-grass fuels and extreme fire behavior, including wind-driven runs, continue to challenge crews.

The Hawk Fire forms part of the broader 2026 Nevada wildfire season. Nationally, wildfires have burned nearly three million hectares so far this year, though that total tracks below the 20-year average. Local residents in the go-now zones have been told to leave at once. Those in the set zones must stay ready to move with little notice.

As of Monday morning, August 24, containment remains at zero. Crews plan to work through the night and into the week as weather forecasts offer limited relief.