A fast-moving Nevada wildfire burned more than 15,000 acres (6,000 hectares) on Sunday, advancing from the Sierra foothills toward downtown Reno and prompting nearly 90,000 residents to evacuate as flames threatened neighborhoods and reached the edge of the University of Nevada campus. fire, according to Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue in Reno. Of those urged to evacuate, 42,000 had strict orders. Another 45,000 people were in the evacuation warning zone and were encouraged to leave now and be prepared to stay away for several days to clear roads for first responders. “If you have been told to evacuate, don’t wait!” Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said in a statement posted to social media Saturday night. “Structures have already burned in this fire and their life is more important than a building. Evacuating before the fire hits also allows our firefighters to focus their efforts on fighting the fire.” Authorities confirmed that three civilians and three first responders were injured in the fire and several structures were destroyed. Authorities said the fire was caused by humans, but did not provide additional details about how it started, saying it was under investigation. Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and mobilized the Nevada National Guard. Two helicopter crews were deployed to support aerial firefighting operations, while 60 soldiers were assigned to help police safeguard evacuated neighborhoods. However, the winds whipped the flames, complicating the fight. “It was extremely confusing,” Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said, describing how changing winds sent flames in different directions. The fire had already proven to be a challenge Saturday night, moving exceptionally fast, skipping fire trucks and making it difficult for first responders to reach hotspots as residents tried to get out, Balaam said. The fire was so small Saturday morning that it wasn’t even a concern, said Tyler Duvall, who went camping for the weekend. The next day, his house was in the evacuation zone. “The wind really blew it away,” Duvall said. “Approximately 400 personnel are currently working on the incident, with resources coming from local, state and federal agencies, including ground crews and air resources,” the statement from Truckee Meadows said. The rapidly expanding fire was surrounded by neighborhoods, and nearly 10,000 homes and businesses in Washoe County were without power Sunday. Parts of U.S. Route 395, a major north-south highway, were closed due to the fire. Reno has a population of more than 280,000 residents. Fire crews and local agencies respond to a rapidly advancing wildfire on dry hillsides outside Reno, Nevada, on Saturday. Photograph: Hale Irwin/NurPhoto/ShutterstockDavid Barb returned from a weekend hunting trip to find his taxidermy shop had been gutted by fire, but his nearby home appeared to have been saved thanks to landscaping company workers who cut down a firebreak, he said. His wife was home when the fire started on the other side of the mountain and was later evacuated to a friend’s house. “I’m a little devastated, but thank God everyone is safe,” he said Sunday. About 2 or 3 times a day Subscribe to Breaking News US Get the top stories as they break after newsletter promotion Washoe County emergency officials opened the Reno-Sparks Convention Center to evacuees, but said pets couldn’t be brought there. Instead, small and large animals had to be left in two other places. Reno casinos offered discounts on hotel rooms to evacuees. At least 20 roads were closed as of Sunday afternoon. The University of Nevada’s Reno campus remained just outside the evacuation zone Sunday morning. The university, which had an enrollment of about 24,000 students in fall 2025, said officials had established an emergency response plan in case conditions changed. The first day of classes at the university is August 24. However, new students at the university were allowed to move in as early as August 13. Reno-Tahoe International Airport also remained outside the evacuation zone and commercial flights were not affected Sunday. The smaller Reno-Stead Airport was closed to general aviation traffic due to the Hawk Fire, but remained open to firefighting aircraft. Authorities were also closely monitoring a county detention center located several blocks from the outer edge of the evacuation warning area. “We have those inmates in mind and are making sure we have plans in place in case we have to evacuate the facility,” Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said. The Hawk Fire comes just weeks after three wildfires fueled by drought and windy conditions north of Reno forced more than 13,000 residents from their homes earlier this month, according to the Nevada National Guard. The Associated Press contributed to the report.
