Nevada declares state of emergency as Hawk Fire forces mass evacuations near Reno

A fast-moving wildfire near Reno, Nevada has triggered a state of emergency and forced the evacuation of nearly 14,000 homes. The blaze, known as the Hawk Fire, began near Hawk Meadow Trail and spread rapidly through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in northwest Nevada. Officials said the fire was moving toward residential areas as strong winds, low humidity and dry vegetation helped drive its growth.

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Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue said the fire had grown to more than 4,450 hectares, or 10,500 acres, by Sunday. The agency said about 10,000 homes and businesses were without power in Washoe County. Richard Edwards, the chief of the agency, described the incident as highly dynamic and said it was being driven by the wind.

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve urged residents to leave immediately if told to evacuate, saying structures had already burned and that lives were more important than buildings. The evacuation zone reached the edge of the University of Nevada, Reno campus on Sunday morning, according to the supplied reports. University officials said they had an emergency response plan in place if conditions changed.

Washoe County emergency officials opened the Reno-Sparks Convention Center to evacuees, while pets were directed to separate locations. Local casinos also offered discounted hotel rooms to people displaced by the fire. The scale of the response underlines how quickly wildfire conditions can escalate in dry western landscapes.

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The fire is affecting a densely populated area surrounded by homes and residential neighbourhoods, which increases the risk to property and complicates firefighting efforts. Around 400 personnel were reported to be working on the incident, with ground crews and air resources drawn from local, state and federal agencies. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and mobilised the Nevada National Guard.

Wildfires in the western United States often intensify when strong winds and low humidity combine with dry fuel, and the Hawk Fire fits that pattern. The incident also highlights the vulnerability of communities on the edge of expanding urban areas, where evacuation orders can affect large numbers of residents in a short time. The proximity to a major university adds another layer of disruption, particularly if the fire continues to move toward the city.

What remains unclear is how much containment has been achieved and whether more homes or facilities will be affected as conditions change. Officials have not said how many structures have been damaged beyond confirming that some have already burned. The next developments to watch are the fire's movement, the status of power restoration, and whether evacuation zones expand further around Reno and the university campus.

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