Topline
More than 90,000 people have been told to evacuate and another 45,000 are being warned they soon could be ordered to leave as a human-caused fire tears through western Nevada and heads toward the center of Reno, where neighborhoods and a university campus are under threat.
Fire crews and local agencies respond to a fast-moving wildfire on the dry hillsides outside Reno, Nevada, on Aug. 22, 2026.
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Key Facts
The Hawk Fire, which started late Saturday morning, has spread to 15,000 acres and is at 0% containment, prompting Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo to declare a state of emergency in Washoe County.
Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve warned “structures have already been burned in this fire” and nearly 90,000 Reno-area residents have been told to evacuate.
Of those, 42,000 people are under strict orders to abandon their homes as low humidity, dry vegetation and strong winds fuel the flames.
Another 45,000 people are in a zone that could soon be asked to evacuate, with residents being told they should leave soon and be prepared to stay away for several days to keep roads clear for first responders.
The current evacuation zone ends just outside of, but does not include, the University of Nevada’s Reno campus, where many students have already moved in for the academic year scheduled to start Monday (which has not been postponed).
The Washoe County Detention Facility, which typically houses upwards of 1,000 inmates, is also close to the edge of the evacuation zone but has not yet been evacuated.
Almost 10,000 people in Washoe County were without power Monday morning after NV Energy initiated emergency power shutoffs; the county’s school district is closed for the day; and portions of US Route 395, a major highway, have been blocked due to the fire.
CRUCIAL QUOTE
“Your life is more important than a building,” Schieve told Reno residents.
BIG NUMBER
6. That’s how many people—three civilians and three first responders—have been injured in the Hawk Fire since Saturday.
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
How the blaze started. Authorities confirmed the now-raging fire was human-caused, but didn’t provide additional details about exactly what started it.
Key background
The Hawk Fire started on Saturday morning near the Hawk Meadow Trail northwest of Reno. The official cause is still under investigation but authorities have said the initial spark ignited dry grass and brush under extreme weather conditions. The National Weather Service had already issued a red flag warning, which warns of high risk of extreme wildfire growth or rapid spread, across western Nevada.