Tens of thousands of residents near Reno, Nevada, have been ordered to leave their homes as a rapidly spreading wildfire engulfs the outskirts of the city, with smoke visible across the region on Sunday.
Approximately 42,000 people have received mandatory evacuation orders, while a further 45,000 have been instructed to prepare for potential evacuation. According to local emergency officials, roughly 90,000 people remain in the evacuation footprint. The fire, which began on Saturday morning at 11:15 local time (18:15 GMT), has already caused injuries and destroyed significant acreage.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and mobilized the National Guard to support firefighting and law enforcement operations.
"This is an active and rapidly evolving situation and I urge everyone in the affected areas to remain vigilant and follow the direction of local officials,"Lombardo stated.
What caused the fire?
The blaze originated from human activity near Hawk Meadow Trail in the Somersett area, northwest of Reno, and has been placed under investigation. According to , the fire was human-caused, though specific circumstances remain under review.
How large is the fire?
The Hawk Fire had consumed approximately 13,000 acres by Sunday, according to reporting from . The Washoe emergency information centre initially reported around 15,000 acres burned. As of Sunday evening, no portion of the fire's perimeter had been contained, and windy, unpredictable weather conditions have accelerated its spread.
Who has been injured?
Six people have sustained injuries related to the fire. According to a Sunday briefing cited by , three were civilians and three were emergency responders engaged in firefighting operations.
What evacuation measures are in place?
The evacuation zone encompasses approximately 13,700 homes across large urban areas and portions of a major highway. The immediate "go now" evacuation zone and the wider "get set" area—where residents are warned to prepare for evacuation—do not extend to downtown Reno but do affect substantial residential neighbourhoods on the city's edge. Washoe County has closed US 395 in both directions from Parr Boulevard to Red Rock Road as of Sunday morning. Two emergency shelters have been established to accommodate displaced residents, and all Washoe County schools will remain closed on Monday except for one facility.
What resources have been deployed?
The Nevada National Guard has committed 72 personnel to the response effort, along with one Chinook helicopter and one Black Hawk helicopter. Large air tankers and additional helicopters have been conducting aerial operations, dropping water and fire retardants over affected areas. Response staffing has reached approximately 400 personnel across all agencies involved in suppression efforts.
How does this affect the University of Nevada?
The University of Nevada, Reno, located outside but near the "get set" warning area, has announced that regular campus operations will continue while the institution monitors the situation closely.
What is the broader context?
Reno, situated in western Nevada near the California border, has a population of approximately 280,000 people. Wildfires are a recurring phenomenon across south-western US states, including Nevada. Currently, three large fires are active across Nevada out of 79 nationwide. However, most of these fires develop in rural and sparsely populated regions, with only a small number threatening urban centres like Reno.
What happens next?
The fire remains under active suppression with zero containment reported. Local officials have indicated that further evacuation changes and firefighting updates are likely in subsequent operational briefings. The Washoe County incident management team will continue issuing daily updates on the Hawk Fire response.
Key Facts
- Approximately 90,000 people are in the evacuation footprint, with 42,000 under mandatory evacuation orders and 45,000 warned to prepare to evacuate
- The Hawk Fire has burned roughly 13,000 acres with zero containment as of Sunday evening
- Six people have been injured, including three emergency responders
- The Nevada National Guard has deployed 72 personnel and two helicopters to support firefighting efforts
- US 395 remains closed in both directions between Parr Boulevard and Red Rock Road
