Hawk Fire Explodes Past 10,500 Acres Northwest of Reno, Mass Evacuations Ordered (Videos)

A fast-moving wildfire burning northwest of Reno has grown to more than 10,500 acres and prompted Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo to declare a state of emergency, as thousands of residents were ordered from their homes and tens of thousands lost power.

The Hawk Fire ignited Saturday morning near Verdi, close to the California border, and expanded rapidly through the day and into the evening, driven by strong winds and dry vegetation. Officials said some structures have already burned, and roughly 1,000 homes remain threatened. As of Sunday, the fire had no containment.

How the Fire Started and Spread

The blaze was first reported around 11:23 a.m. Saturday as a small vegetation fire near the Somersett community in Washoe County. Within hours it had grown into a major incident, expanding from an estimated 30 to 40 acres to more than 10,500 by Saturday night, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Hawk Fire Grows Past 10,500 Acres Northwest of Reno, Forcing Mass Evacuations

WATCH: Person uses heavy machinery to create a firebreak as the Hawk Fire burns near Reno, Nevada; more than 10,500 acres burned and “Go Now” evacuation orders issued. pic.twitter.com/31qLRc57V9

— Scope Report (@ScopeReport_) August 23, 2026

📌 The fast-moving Hawk Fire has burned over 10,000 acres in Nevada

Approximately 1,000 homes threatened, with 0% containment as gusty winds fuel rapid growth.#Nevada #USA #wildfire pic.twitter.com/PBvg6hF0qD

— Context 360 (@NewsContext360) August 23, 2026

Truckee Meadows Fire Chief Richard Edwards described it as a wind-driven fire moving rapidly into residential areas. He said the conditions have created significant challenges for crews trying to protect homes and save lives, and urged residents to follow evacuation orders and leave early when directed.

The cause of the fire has not been determined. Do Not Inhale! How Wildfire Smoke 'affects the Whole Body'.

Emergency Declaration and Evacuations

Governor Lombardo declared a state of emergency for Washoe County on Saturday evening, directing state agencies to work through the Nevada Emergency Operations Center to support local response efforts. In a statement, he called the situation "spreading quickly and threatening homes and structures" and urged residents to heed evacuation warnings.

Evacuation orders and warnings expanded repeatedly throughout the day. By Saturday night, all evacuation warnings in the county had been upgraded to mandatory orders, with additional zones added south of U.S. 395 and new warnings issued to the north. Areas affected include Golden Valley, Lemmon Valley, Stead, Somersett, and Verdi. Tropical Storm Moke Nears Hawaii’s Big Island as Residents Reel From Hurricane Lala’s Flooding, Winds.

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said structures had already burned and urged anyone told to evacuate not to wait. "Our firefighters and first responders are heroically fighting the fire and the high winds to save lives, homes, businesses, livestock and pets," she said in a statement.

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office said it was also monitoring the fire's proximity to the county detention center.

Road Closures and Impacts

U.S. Highway 395 has been closed in both directions between Parr Boulevard and Red Rock Road because of the fire. Officials said evacuees from areas north of Red Rock Road must travel south on 395, while all off-ramps in the closed section remain shut. Motorists have been asked to avoid the area.

Power outages tied to the fire have affected tens of thousands of customers. NV Energy reported roughly 27,000 customers without power in the Reno, Sparks and Copperfield areas after de-energizing transmission lines as a precaution, with later estimates putting outages near 50,000 in Washoe County. The Truckee Donner Public Utility District said all of its more than 12,500 customers in the Truckee area also lost power after NV Energy shut down lines serving the district.

Northern Nevada Health Systems temporarily closed the emergency room at its North Valleys facility north of Reno because of the evacuations.

Response and Resources

Local, state and federal firefighting resources have been mobilized, including air tankers and helicopters. Incident commanders requested additional support from Cal Fire, including engines, bulldozers and hand crews. Washoe County officials said "substantial resources" were also redirected from the nearby Bug Fire, which was 94 percent contained as of Friday, to help fight the Hawk Fire.

Evacuees have been directed to the Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center in Reno, while the American Red Cross of Nevada opened an additional shelter at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. Several Reno-area casino resorts, including Silver Legacy, Eldorado, Circus Circus and the Nugget in Sparks, began offering discounted emergency room rates for evacuees.

The University of Nevada, Reno said its campus was not within an evacuation zone as of Saturday evening but that leadership was actively monitoring the situation.

Current Conditions

Fire weather danger eased somewhat across the West by early Sunday, though it remained elevated in parts of the Northwest and northern Rockies. Temperatures in the region, including Reno, Salt Lake City and Boise, were expected to reach the 90s into the coming week. Red Flag Warnings remained in effect for limited areas of Washington, Idaho and Montana, including around Spokane, which has also seen recent wildfire activity.

Authorities say the situation remains dynamic, with the fire's perimeter and evacuation zones subject to change. Residents in affected areas are being asked to monitor official channels, including the Washoe County Sheriff's Office and local fire agencies, for the latest updates, and to avoid calling 911 solely to report the fire or request general information.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 23, 2026 06:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).