Hawk Fire near Reno grows to over 10,500 acres, prompting evacuations and Nevada governor's emergency declaration
A fast-moving brush fire in Northern Nevada, just outside Reno, grew to more than 10,500 acres by Saturday evening with no containment reported. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and urged those in affected areas to evacuate immediately. The fire's cause remains undetermined.
The Hawk Fire ignited on a hillside in Northern Nevada and rapidly expanded through Saturday, driven by gusty winds, low humidity, and dry brush. By late Saturday evening, state fire officials reported the blaze had surpassed 10,500 acres with zero containment, according to CNN. Reuters also confirmed the acreage figure as of Saturday evening.
Evacuation orders expanded throughout the day and into the night. Roughly 1,000 homes were initially placed on evacuation readiness, but authorities later issued "go now" orders for additional residential areas, including the Somersett neighborhood and areas to the north, CNN reported. Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve stated, "structures have already been burned in this fire and your life is more important than a building," in a message posted by the City of Reno on X.
Governor Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and directed state agencies to coordinate response through Nevada's emergency operations center. "This is an active and rapidly evolving situation, and I urge everyone in the affected areas to remain vigilant," Lombardo wrote on X, according to CNN.