Reno wildfire update: Hawk Fire prompts new evacuations and road closures as thousands flee; over 10,000 acres burned
The Hawk fire has grown to more than 10,000 acres near Reno, forcing evacuations, closing roads and prompting emergency measures as firefighters battle strong winds and dry conditions.
What is the Hawk fire and how big has it grown?
A wildfire burning in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and moving toward Reno, Nevada, has forced thousands of evacuations, shuttered two hospitals and prompted emergency declarations from state officials, as per The New York Times.
The blaze, known as the Hawk fire, has grown to more than 10,000 acres since Saturday without any containment and has encroached on the outskirts of Reno, a city of almost 300,000 people near the California border.
The cause of the fire remains unclear, but a combination of extreme heat, dry conditions and strong winds fueled its rapid growth.
Residents cans check the fire map and evacuation updates here.
New road closures and traffic restrictions
US 395 traffic information, as per WIRE TV:
- Northbound US 395 is closed from Parr Boulevard to Red Rock Road
- Southbound US 395 traffic at Bordertown is being turned around before reaching White Lake
- Southbound US 395 remains open from Red Rock Road south into Reno
Road closures:
- U.S. 395 at Bordertown
- U.S. 395 at Village Parkway
- U.S. 395 at White Lake Parkway
- North Virginia Street at White Lake Parkway
- Northbound U.S. 395 at Red Rock Road
- Southbound U.S. 395 at Stead Boulevard
- Stead Boulevard at Matthews Street
- North Virginia Street at Panther Drive
- North Virginia Street at Parr Boulevard
- North Virginia Street at East Golden Valley Road
- Mae Anne Avenue at Somersett Parkway
- Del Webb Parkway at Somersett Parkway
- Robb Drive at Los Brisas Boulevard
- Lemmon Valley Drive at North Virginia Street
- Golden Vista Avenue at North Hills Boulevard
- East Golden Valley Road at Beckwourth Drive
- Red Rock Road at North Virginia Street
- Stead Boulevard at North Virginia Street
- Sharlands Avenue at Mae Anne Avenue
- Beaumont Parkway at Landa Avenue
California Governor also monitoring the situation
California Governor Gavin Newsom shared the update on Sunday on X. He said the state is closely monitoring the Hawk fire across the Tahoe region and Nevada, with state and local partners deployed and coordinating on the ground and in the air, he shared on X. “Residents in impacted areas should continue following guidance from local emergency officials,” Governor Newsom added in the post.
How many people have been evacuated?
Around 14,000 homes are under evacuation orders, with all of the properties located northwest of downtown Reno, according to Washoe County, as per The New York Times. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has issued a state of emergency in Washoe County, which includes Reno and parts of Lake Tahoe, and has activated the Nevada National Guard.
“This is an active and rapidly evolving situation, and I urge everyone in the affected areas to remain vigilant and follow the direction of local officials,” Governor Lombardo said in a statement late Saturday.
Emergency response underway
Around 400 emergency responders from local, state and federal agencies are combating the blaze, as per The New York Times. The Nevada National Guard sent Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters to support response efforts, while 60 National Guard Response Force personnel are assisting local law enforcement “in safeguarding evacuated neighborhoods,” according to the National Guard. Aerial and ground crews worked through Saturday night into Sunday morning in an effort to stop the fire’s spread, local officials said.
Conditions may ease on Sunday, with winds generally forecast for five to 10 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.
