Hawk fire containment remains at zero percent as of Saturday night, with the fast-moving Nevada wildfire now scorching more than 10,500 acres northwest of Reno. The blaze has forced thousands of residents from their homes, closed major roadways, and cut power to tens of thousands of customers across Washoe County and the North Lake Tahoe region.
How the Hawk Fire Started and Grew
The fire ignited Saturday, Aug. 22, around 11:25 a.m. near the Somersett Golf and Country Club, close to Hawk Meadow Trail and about a mile north of Cold Creek Trail. Within an hour, it had already grown to an estimated 30 to 40 acres.
Dry cheatgrass, gusty canyon winds, and low humidity fueled rapid spread throughout the afternoon. By 3 p.m., the fire had exploded to roughly 2,500 acres. By 7:30 p.m., it topped 8,000 acres. Later mapping from FIRIS placed the fire at 10,522.8 acres by 9 p.m., making it one of the fastest-growing blazes the Reno area has seen this summer.
A Red Flag Warning covered the region until 11 p.m. Saturday, and radio traffic indicated the fire jumped Highway 395 to the north side near Peppermint Drive later in the evening.
Current Hawk Fire Containment Status
As of Saturday, Aug. 22, at 9 p.m., hawk fire containment sits at 0%. Firefighters have not yet been able to establish meaningful containment lines given the speed and unpredictability of the fire’s spread. The blaze is burning across a mix of U.S. Forest Service land in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and private property in Washoe County.
Here is a quick snapshot of how the fire progressed on its first day:
- 11:25 a.m. — Fire reported near Somersett, roughly 30-40 acres
- 3:00 p.m. — Grows to approximately 2,500 acres, 0% contained
- 7:30 p.m. — Expands past 8,000 acres, still 0% contained
- 9:00 p.m. — Mapped at 10,522.8 acres, containment remains 0%
Incident Command has requested significant reinforcements, including an additional 10 engines, two dozers, and two hand crews from CAL FIRE. Local, state, and federal agencies have mobilized air tankers and at least two helicopters, with substantial support diverted from crews already working the nearby Bug Fire.
Evacuation Orders and Warnings Expand
Evacuations have widened repeatedly throughout the day. New evacuation orders were first issued north and northwest of Somersett and north of Verdi shortly before 1 p.m. Evacuation warnings soon followed for Golden Valley, Lemmon Valley, and Stead on the west side of U.S. 395.
By evening, all evacuation warnings previously issued north of U.S. 395 had been upgraded to mandatory evacuation orders. The Panther Valley zone remained under a warning rather than a full order. New warnings also arrived for areas south, east, and north of the fire, and an evacuation was later ordered for the back side of Peavine.
Sierra County officials in California issued a warning for Long Valley south of Highway 70, urging residents there to be ready to leave on short notice.
Approximately 1,000 homes have been threatened, and the fire has been moving northeast toward Virginia Street between Seneca Drive and Copperfield Drive. Officials say the immediate impact to structures has so far been limited, though conditions remain volatile.
Road Closures and Power Outages
Nevada’s Department of Transportation closed northbound U.S. 395 traffic beginning at Parr Boulevard. Residents evacuating from north of Red Rock Road have been directed to travel south on U.S. 395, with all off-ramps between Red Rock Road and Parr Boulevard closed to keep the route clear.
Southbound lanes have remained open for evacuation traffic. North Virginia Street was also requested to be closed between Golden Valley and Red Rock as crews worked to keep pace with the fire’s movement.
NV Energy reported more than 41,000 customers in Washoe County and more than 5,000 customers in the North Lake Tahoe area without power Saturday night, after transmission lines were de-energized as a safety precaution.
Evacuation Centers Open for Displaced Residents
Two evacuation centers have supported displaced residents. The Evelyn Mount Community Center at 1301 Valley Road in Reno reached capacity Saturday night, prompting officials to open the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Hall 4, at 4590 S. Virginia St.
Washoe County officials clarified that the Reno-Sparks Livestock Event Center is not available as an evacuation site, since another event is already using the space and no room remains for displaced animals. No alternate site for livestock had been announced as of Saturday night.
The American Red Cross of Nevada, Washoe County Human Services Agency, and Allied Security staff have been on site at evacuation points to assist residents.
UNR Monitors Hawk Fire as Evacuations Spread
The University of Nevada, Reno has confirmed that its campus is not currently within an evacuation order or “Get Ready” yellow warning zone. University leadership said it is actively monitoring the fire and will issue updates as conditions change.
Smoke from the Hawk fire has settled over the Reno metro area, and the university pointed students, faculty, and staff to AirNow.gov for current air quality readings. Photos shared from a UNR quad camera showed the fire’s glow visible from campus Saturday evening, even though the university itself remains outside the affected zones.
For students who live within an active evacuation zone, the university’s Dean of Students Office is offering support, including help locating temporary housing. Students needing weekend assistance were told to contact Dean of Students Leilani Kupo directly at (775) 784-4296 between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Weekday assistance is available by calling (775) 682-6846. The university also flagged its Counseling Services, the Downing Counseling Clinic, the Employee Assistance Program, the LiveWell program, and the Student Health Center as resources for anyone dealing with stress or health needs tied to the fire.
Fire Follows Closely Behind the Bug Fire
The Hawk fire erupted just as crews reached 94% containment on the nearby Bug Fire, a separate blaze that had already burned roughly 93,700 acres in northern Washoe County. Evacuation warnings and orders tied to the Hawk fire now overlap areas previously affected by the Bug Fire, adding fresh strain to a region still recovering from that earlier incident.
Support crews from South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Lake Valley Fire Protection District also sent strike teams under the Lake Tahoe Regional Fire Chiefs Agreement, reflecting how quickly the response expanded beyond Washoe County alone.
What Residents Should Do Now
Washoe County officials continue to urge residents near the fire to stay alert, even outside mandatory zones, since conditions have shifted rapidly throughout the incident. Officials have asked the public not to call 911 or dispatch simply to report fire sightings, and instead to rely on the Perimeter Map and Watch Duty app for real-time zone updates.
The University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Living With Fire Program has also pointed residents toward its Wildfire Evacuation Checklist, available in English and Spanish, to help households prepare before an order reaches their area.
With hawk fire containment still at zero percent and winds continuing to challenge crews, the situation on the ground may change quickly in the hours ahead.
Stay with us as we continue tracking the Hawk Fire and share your updates from the affected areas in the comments below.