A rapidly advancing wildfire known as the Hawk Fire expanded nearly 50% in just a day, posing an increasing threat to Reno, Nevada. This led to the expansion of evacuation zones as flames moved closer to the city.
By Sunday afternoon, the fire had consumed about 15,040 acres, having been detected just a day earlier, according to reports. As it remains uncontained, officials increased evacuation efforts, urging residents to leave.
The Washoe County sheriff indicated that the fire was caused by human activity and advised about 90,000 local residents to evacuate the area. This was a sharp escalation from Saturday morning, when the fire was first observed around 11:30 a.m. off Hawk Meadow Trail, situated about a mile from Cold Creek Trail in the northwest region of Reno.
On Saturday alone, the fire burned over 10,500 acres, fueled by strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation, which created ideal conditions for its rapid growth. By the end of Saturday, the flames had raced north, leading to an additional 4,500 acres burned by Sunday, bringing the total to 15,040 acres.
In response to the developing emergency, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency on Saturday night, while the number of personnel engaged in battling the fire increased to 800.
As the situation developed, the impact of the fire began to affect daily life in Reno. Schools in Washoe County canceled classes for Monday due to evacuations and to ensure that roads remained accessible for emergency services. The school district cited the need to safeguard public safety resources as part of their decision.
Classes were only expected to proceed as normal for students in Gerlach, roughly 100 miles northeast of Reno. The University of Nevada, Reno announced that its campus was outside both evacuation and safety zones, emphasizing that emergency plans were in place in case conditions changed.
The University confirmed that they were offering support and resources for students impacted by the wildfire.
The fire also disrupted major transportation routes; U.S. 395 was closed in several sections as of Sunday. Southbound drivers were rerouted at the California border, while northbound traffic faced blockages between Parr Boulevard and Red Rock Road. Despite the disruptions, southbound U.S. 395 remained open from Red Rock Road into Reno.
With the evacuation area expanding, the American Red Cross of Nevada set up a shelter at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, while Washoe County offered assistance to evacuees at a community center nearby.
The urgency of the situation spurred residents in Reno and Carson City to utilize social media, offering help to families trying to evacuate their horses from the path of the fire.
