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Reno wildfire forces 90,000 evacuations
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
A human-caused wildfire in Reno, Nevada, forced about 90,000 to evacuate. The uncontained Hawk Fire has destroyed homes and injured six.
Background
The Hawk Fire started Saturday in the Peavine Peak area of the Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest, near homes and businesses. It grew rapidly to over 13,000 acres, driven by wind, and prompted a state of emergency in Washoe County. Authorities confirmed it was human-caused but have not released details on the origin.
How it unfolded
- Aug 22, 2026Hawk Fire starts in northwest Reno, quickly expanding to 20 square miles.
- Aug 23, 2026Evacuation orders expand to about 90,000 residents; state of emergency declared; six injured; power outages affect nearly 10,000 customers.
- Aug 24, 2026Fire remains uncontained; Bay Area firefighters deploy to assist; residents describe harrowing evacuations.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam described the situation as 'extremely confusing' due to shifting winds.
- Public
- Evacuee Jessica McClain said, 'I never thought in a million years I'd have to evacuate' and struggled to find shelter.
Still unverified
The exact cause of the fire is under investigation; authorities have not released details on how it started.