Firefighters have achieved 27% containment on the devastating Hawk Fire near Reno, Nevada, which has destroyed at least 32 homes and damaged six others as it swept through the Sierra Nevada foothills. State and local officials confirmed Monday that the 23-square-mile (60-square-kilometer) blaze has held steady with no new growth, allowing authorities to scale back some of the massive evacuation orders that were put in place over the weekend.
The number of residents under evacuation orders and warnings was reduced to roughly 63,000 on Monday, down from a peak of more than 90,000 when the fire rapidly expanded. To assist with the crisis, Nevada's governor declared a state of emergency in Washoe County, mobilizing the National Guard to support aerial firefighting efforts and help protect evacuated neighborhoods northwest of downtown Reno. Washoe County schools were closed on Monday to keep critical roadways clear for emergency crews.
U.S. Forest Service District Ranger Matt Zumstein expressed cautious optimism at an afternoon news briefing, stating, “We are making progress.” However, officials remain on high alert due to hot temperatures, low humidity, and the potential for shifting winds. Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam addressed the frustration of residents blocked at roadblocks from returning to their homes, noting the persistent danger of dry brush.
“I understand that some residents are frustrated that they can’t get home but the danger isn’t over yet,” Balaam said. “It just takes that little breeze and one ember.” At one roadblock, an angry driver yelled, “There’s no fire here! Why are the National Guard here?”
Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve recalled the sheer speed and intensity of the fire at its peak over the weekend. “It lit up these areas like nothing I’ve seen before,” Schieve remarked. “It took your breath away, in the worst way.”
The Hawk Fire erupted on Saturday in the Peavine Peak area of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest near the California state line, quickly expanding to 20 square miles (53 square kilometers) before reaching its current size of 23 square miles on Sunday. Authorities confirmed the blaze was human-caused, though they have not yet specified whether it was started accidentally or intentionally.
This is the third major wildfire to strike the rugged terrain north of Reno in the span of two weeks, all of which have been attributed to human activity. The flames have primarily consumed dry sagebrush and grass.
At least seven people, including three first responders and four civilians, have suffered injuries since the fire began. While the official count stands at 32 destroyed homes and six damaged properties, authorities warned that those figures are highly likely to rise as assessment teams begin thoroughly surveying the charred neighborhoods. Videos posted on social media showed the smoldering ruins of homes and cars, with only a scorched basketball hoop still standing in one yard.
The sudden onslaught of the fire left many residents with mere minutes to flee. Crystal Hallock, 53, experienced the devastating loss of her home for the second time in less than ten years. Her previous residence was destroyed by an electrical fire in 2018, and she had only moved into her rebuilt home in 2019.
On Saturday, as massive plumes of smoke and flames crowned the nearby mountaintop, Hallock fled with her children, grandchildren, and pets. Her ex-husband stayed behind temporarily to fight the flames with a garden hose and save her vintage Cadillac as outdoor toys melted and bushes burned.
Hallock recounted screaming at him over the phone to escape when the line went dead. “He was saying he can’t breathe, it’s so dark I can’t see, and I’m screaming at him, ‘Leave the car, just leave it,’” she said. Fortunately, he called back 30 minutes later to confirm he had made it out safely with the vehicle.
“I’m truly blessed because I have a place to stay with my animals and my grandkids. We were all able to get out safely,” Hallock said from her niece's apartment in Reno.
Other residents shared similar tales of panic. Ruby Delatorre returned home from a concert to find her neighborhood inside the evacuation zone. “Honestly, I thought it was like in a movie,” Delatorre said, describing how she returned on Sunday to retrieve a few essential belongings. “I literally want to cry and go back for all my stuff.
I just got what I thought I needed.” Jon Hanbury, who sought refuge at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, admitted he initially mistook the smoke on Saturday for another ongoing fire. “The flames were pretty close to my house, and the smoke was really thick, but we have no idea if our house survived or not,” Hanbury said.
The Reno-Sparks Convention Center has been converted into a temporary evacuation shelter, where volunteers are distributing donated clothing and essentials to families who fled with nothing. The fire's proximity to Reno also prompted a response from organizers of the nearby Burning Man festival, which regularly draws travelers through the city.
On Monday, festival organizers urged attendees to avoid booking local hotel rooms or consuming resources needed by local evacuees. “Treat our neighbors, first responders, hospitality workers and everyone affected by this emergency with patience and care,” a Burning Man statement read.
The National Interagency Fire Center warned that much of western Nevada remains under an elevated risk of wildfires due to high winds and low relative humidity. The National Weather Service predicted warm, dry, and breezy conditions for Reno, which sits at an elevation of 4,500 feet (1,370 meters), with critical fire weather conditions possible later in the week. This regional threat mirrors a broader pattern of extreme summer wildfires across the American West, driven by exceptionally dry conditions.
Earlier in August, wildfires near Spokane in eastern Washington forced the evacuation of 60,000 residents. Nationwide, the United States has recorded more than 50,000 wildfires so far this year, marking the highest frequency of fires in the same year-to-date period over the past decade.
