Hawk Fire: "Extreme" wildfire nears Reno as more than 40,000 evacuate

Reno, Nevada - Officials in Nevada urged people to evacuate their homes Sunday as a fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire bore down on the city of Reno.

Local residents look over a fence at the Hawk Fire burning in Reno, Nevada, on August 23, 2026.
Local residents look over a fence at the Hawk Fire burning in Reno, Nevada, on August 23, 2026.  © TREVOR BEXON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

Some 42,000 people have evacuated their homes and another 45,000 have been told to get ready leave, Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve told CNN.

The one-day-old Hawk Fire had grown to 15,040 acres by Sunday afternoon and was burning five miles northwest of Reno, a metropolitan area of over 280,000 people, according to census data from 2025.

The blaze has already destroyed some mountaintop homes and injured six people, including three first responders, local media reports said.

Cat shows up at couple's home every day – then they realize who she's waiting for
Cats Cat shows up at couple's home every day – then they realize who she's waiting for

The Hawk Fire showed "extreme fire behavior," according to InciWeb, a US government website that tracks fire activity.

Pictures posted on X by the local fire service showed flames and towering smoke clouds atop mountains that overlook the city.

Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County, where Reno is located.

The Hawk Fire "is spreading quickly and threatening homes and structures," his order said.

Reno is located in northwestern Nevada near the border with California and the tourist area of Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Local fire chief Richard Edwards urged people to be ready to evacuate immediately when told to do so, or even sooner.

"The Hawk Fire is a very dynamic incident for us as it's being driven by the winds. The wind-driven fires move very rapidly into our residential areas," he warned.

Cover photo: TREVOR BEXON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

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