A fast-moving wildfire, dubbed the Hawk Fire, continues to threaten Reno, Nevada, prompting evacuation orders for thousands of residents and reaching the edge of the University of Nevada campus. As of Sunday, August 23, 2026, authorities urged approximately 90,000 people to evacuate or prepare to leave their homes due to the uncontained blaze. The fire, which began Saturday, has already destroyed homes in northwest Reno and injured six people, including three first responders and three civilians.
The Hawk Fire has expanded to more than 23 square miles (60 sq. km.), spreading across the Peavine Peak area of the Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest. This rugged region is surrounded by homes and businesses near the California state line. Shifting and strengthening winds are expected to make the fire even more unpredictable, leading officials to advise evacuees to be prepared for an extended absence.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County, mobilizing the Nevada National Guard. Two helicopter crews are providing aerial firefighting support, and 60 troops are assisting local police in safeguarding evacuated neighborhoods. Approximately 800 fire personnel are actively battling the blaze. Nearly 10,000 customers in Washoe County were without power on Sunday, a significant decrease from 60,000 on Saturday. Portions of U.S. Route 395, a major north-south highway, have been closed.
The fire’s rapid progression on Saturday night made it difficult for crews to reach hot spots and for residents to evacuate. Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam described the situation as extremely confusing due to changing winds. The Reno-Sparks Convention Center has been opened as an evacuation shelter, though pets must be taken to separate designated locations. Local casinos are offering discounted hotel rooms to those displaced by the fire.
The Hawk Fire is one of 15 new fires that ignited across Nevada on Saturday, following months of dry weather and a record lack of snow in the American West. Earlier in August, wildfires in eastern Washington state led to the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area, and three separate wildfires north of Reno forced over 13,000 residents from their homes.
Cari Kieffer, a resident whose home was destroyed, described watching flames advance rapidly towards her neighborhood. She managed to grab a handful of clothes, a Bible, wedding photos, and her mother’s ashes before evacuating with her husband and four children. Retired police officer and firefighter Ted Melden, who recently moved to Reno from Chapin, South Carolina, noted the recent hailstorm, flash flooding, and power outages, in addition to the current wildfire, as a challenging welcome to the area.
