A massive human-caused wildfire named the Hawk Fire is barreling toward homes in northwest Reno, Nevada, forcing about 90,000 residents to evacuate after injuring at least six people.
The fast-moving blaze began on Saturday and expanded to 20 square miles across the Peavine Peak area of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, with emergency crews reporting zero containment as flames spread near the California state line.
Reno, located in Washoe County in western Nevada near the Sierra Nevada mountain range, sits directly adjacent to the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, which is the largest national forest in the United States outside Alaska.
Authorities first received reports of the fire off Hawk Meadow Trail at approximately 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, according to Richard Edwards, chief of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District. Officials have categorized the blaze as human-made, though it remains unclear whether arson is suspected.
Firefighters faced severe difficulties early in the response as changing winds drove the flames rapidly across the rugged foothills.
Rapid Spread and Expanding Evacuations
Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said the wildfire moved exceptionally fast on Saturday night, jumping over fire trucks and impeding emergency responders attempting to reach hotspots while local residents tried to evacuate.
"It was extremely confusing," Balaam said, describing how unpredictable winds repeatedly changed the direction of the fire.
At least six people have been injured in the disaster, including three civilians and three first responders. Several structures have already been destroyed by the advancing flames.
Authorities expanded the mandatory "GO NOW" evacuation zone to cover approximately 42,000 residents as the fire reached the edge of the University of Nevada, where nearly 24,000 students were scheduled to begin classes on Monday.
The University of Nevada, Reno, is the state's public flagship land-grant university, situated just north of downtown Reno. University officials said they are providing support and assistance to affected students and have established an emergency evacuation plan if conditions deteriorate.
An additional 45,000 residents remain in an adjacent evacuation warning zone. Sheriff Balaam urged people in warning areas to leave early to prevent severe traffic congestion across the region.
"Please get out if you can right now," Balaam said on Sunday, noting that more than a dozen roadways remain closed due to the fire.
Hospital Evacuations and Power Outages
Transportation corridors have been disrupted, with emergency officials closing portions of U.S. Route 395, a major north-south highway that runs along the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. Northwest Specialty Hospital, located within the evacuation warning area, initiated a full facility evacuation on Sunday.
Hospital staff worked alongside emergency responders to evacuate rehabilitation and behavioral health patients, close the building, and notify families of affected patients. "The safety and well-being of our rehabilitation and behavioral health patients and staff remain the highest priority and we are evacuating out of an abundance of caution," Northwest Specialty Hospital said in a news release.
The wildfire severely impacted local electrical infrastructure. Utility outages left nearly 10,000 homes and businesses without power in Washoe County on Sunday, down from a peak of 60,000 during the height of the fire activity on Saturday.
Officials opened the Reno-Sparks Convention Center to accommodate displaced residents. Evacuees were informed that pets are not allowed inside the convention center and must be taken to two designated animal shelter sites. Additionally, several hotel-casinos in Reno began offering discounted room rates for evacuees.
Home Losses and Resident Accounts
Local families experienced devastating losses as the fire swept through residential neighborhoods on the outskirts of Reno. Cari Kieffer said her family lost everything after their home was completely destroyed, leaving only a scorched basketball hoop standing on the property.
"I woke up this morning and just started crying - all my kids, they lost everything," Kieffer said on Sunday. "We lost all our stuff. Everything we own is gone."
Kieffer was watching her son's football game on Saturday when she learned her neighborhood was inside the evacuation zone. She said a tracking application her family used to monitor the fire was lagging significantly behind its actual position, leading them to believe firefighters had contained the blaze away from their street.
Kieffer, her husband, and their four children, aged three to 16, rushed home to retrieve their dogs and personal belongings as ash rained down and intense winds blew heat like an oven blast down the hillside.
"I kept looking outside and the flames just kept getting closer and closer every time I looked," Kieffer said. "I was like, we gotta go like now."
With eyes watering and throat burning, Kieffer collected clothes, a Bible, wedding photos, and her mother's ashes while firefighters shouted at the family to leave immediately. In the rush, she was unable to salvage her childhood photos or her family's birth certificates. The family drove to a friend's home but had to evacuate a second time, learning later Saturday evening that their house was gone.
Escape from Peavine Mountain
Similar destruction occurred on Peavine Mountain, a high peak overlooking Reno and Sparks where Rick Arrate lived alone. His granddaughter, Jaida Hargrove, said firefighters tried to protect the area using a bulldozer, cutting down trees, and dropping fire retardant.
"They all thought it would be OK," Hargrove said. "And then, in about 30 minutes, the winds just changed and it came way too fast."
The sudden shift in wind forced firefighters and Arrate to flee the mountain immediately. "All he was able to take with him was his two golden retrievers," Hargrove said. Arrate stayed Saturday night with Hargrove's parents while figuring out his next steps. Separate GoFundMe crowdfunding campaigns have been launched to assist Arrate and the Kieffer family.
Red Flag Weather and Emergency Response
Fire crews continue to battle severe weather conditions across the region. Edwards, the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District chief, said responders faced extreme red flag conditions, including warm temperatures, very low humidity, and strong winds that drastically heighten fire risks.
"We expect those same strong conditions to come back this afternoon," Edwards said on Sunday. The National Weather Service reported that wind gusts could increase and become more frequent throughout the week.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and mobilized the Nevada National Guard to aid firefighting and security operations. The deployment includes two helicopter crews for aerial firefighting support and 60 troops assisting police in safeguarding evacuated neighborhoods, joining approximately 800 fire personnel responding to the incident.
"This is an active and rapidly evolving situation and I urge everyone in the affected areas to remain vigilant," Lombardo wrote in a post on X.
Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve emphasized the danger to life, stating that "structures have already been burned in this fire, and your life is more important than a building."
In neighboring California, Governor Gavin Newsom said state officials are monitoring the situation near the Nevada-California state line. "We're closely monitoring the #HawkFire across the Tahoe region and Nevada, with state and local partners deployed and coordinating on the ground and in the air," Newsom posted on X. "Residents in impacted areas should continue following guidance from local emergency officials."
