A fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire burning in Northwest Reno has forced widespread evacuations, threatened roughly 1,000 homes.
A rapidly expanding brush fire on a hillside in northern Nevada has surged to over 10,500 acres, triggering an emergency response as high winds push flames toward residential areas.
The blaze officially dubbed the Hawk Fire was first reported on Saturday morning near the Somersett Golf and Country Club in Northwest Reno.
Fueled by intense winds, the fire experienced explosive growth, multiplying from just 40 acres to over 10,523 acres by Saturday night, with 0% containment.
As reported by Reuters, the escalating crises prompted Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo to declare a state of emergency in Washoe County due to the fire.
Local law enforcement and fire authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders for multiple zones north of U.S. 395, while evacuation warnings remain active for surrounding areas like Panther Valley. Residents have been heavily urged to monitor mapping platforms like Perimeter Map and Genasys Protect for real-time safety updates.
Roughly 50,000 customers in the Reno and Sparks areas also experienced power outages as the fire impacted regional infrastructure.
Meanwhile, local police have pleaded with citizens to keep emergency dispatch lines clear, asking the public not to call 911 solely to report the fire or request general updates.
“The Hawk Fire is a very dynamic incident for us as it’s being driven by the winds,” said Richard Edwards, chief of Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue.
“The wind-driven fires move very rapidly into our residential areas, creating a lot of challenges for our firefighters to save homes and protect lives,” Edwards added.
Multi-agency firefighting resources including local, state, and federal crews aided by air tankers and helicopters—are currently battling the blaze on the ground and from the air to establish containment lines and protect threatened properties.
