A fast-moving wildfire northwest of Reno has grown to more than 13,000 acres and remains at zero percent containment, threatening roughly 1,000 homes across Washoe County, Nevada, after igniting the evening of August 22.
Governor Declares State of Emergency
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency for Washoe County as the Hawk Fire exploded in size, directing state agencies to work through the Nevada Emergency Operations Center to support local firefighters, according to the Governor’s office.
“Please heed all warnings from local officials, evacuate immediately if ordered, and do not put yourself or first responders at risk,” Lombardo said in the declaration. “The state is fully engaged, and we are working alongside local authorities and first responders to deploy every available resource to protect lives, safeguard communities, and keep Nevadans out of harm’s way,” according to the Governor’s office.
Zero Containment, Homes Directly in the Path
The fire has burned through the Peavine Mountain area near Stead and grown to between 13,000 and more than 15,000 acres, with containment still at 0 percent as crews battle wind-driven flames. The blaze has already knocked out power to about 10,000 customers in the region amid emergency de-energization measures, according to Washoe County’s emergency information site.
Reno-Stead Airport is closed to all general aviation traffic, though it remains open to firefighting aircraft and military operations, according to the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority. Reno-Tahoe International Airport is operating normally.
Evacuation Zones and Where to Go
Tens of thousands of residents are under evacuation orders or warnings. Officials are tracking active zones through PerimeterMap, where red zones mean immediate evacuation orders and yellow zones mean evacuation warnings to prepare to leave, according to Washoe County’s emergency information site.
An evacuation shelter has opened at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Hall 4, accessible through Door 20F on the Kietzke Lane side. Residents with small animals can bring them to Washoe County Regional Animal Services on Longley Lane, and those with large animals or livestock can use the Ironwood Event Center on Whiskey Springs Road, according to Washoe County’s emergency information site.
What Residents Should Do
Leave immediately once an order is issued. Don’t wait to confirm exactly how close the flames are — fire behavior can outrun evacuation windows, according to the Governor’s office.
Check your zone status before you need to. Confirm whether your address sits in a red or yellow zone through the county’s PerimeterMap tool, and sign up for Washoe County’s emergency notification system so alerts reach you directly, according to Washoe County’s emergency information site.
Pack a go-bag now, not later. Include medications, identification, phone chargers, and a photo inventory of belongings for insurance purposes. If your household relies on medical oxygen or other equipment, know that shelter capacity for those needs is limited.
Keep emergency phone lines open for real emergencies. Use shelter and evacuation-status questions for non-emergency resources rather than 911, according to Washoe County’s emergency information site.
Homeowners outside the immediate fire zone should still prepare: clear dry brush and debris within five feet of the house, close windows and vents to keep embers out, and move flammable patio furniture or propane tanks away from exterior walls if smoke or ash becomes visible nearby. With the fire still uncontained and wind expected to keep pushing flames toward populated areas, conditions can shift with little notice.
