US news | The Guardian
· collected 2026-08-24 · by Marina Dunbar and agencies
A fast-moving wildfire in Reno, Nevada is forcing thousands to evacuate their homes, with nearly 90,000 residents urged to leave as flames threaten neighborhoods and reach the edge of the University of Nevada campus. The fire has burned over 15,000 acres and injured six people, with three civilians and three first responders among them. Those in the evacuation zone include 42,000 under strict orders to leave and 45,000 in a warning zone. Governor Joe Lombardo has declared a state of emergency in Washoe county and mobilized the Nevada national guard to support firefighting efforts.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A fast-moving wildfire known as the Hawk Fire has been threatening Reno, Nevada, forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes. The fire began on Saturday in the Peavine Peak area of the Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest and quickly grew to over 60 square kilometers (23 sq miles) in size. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of 90,000 people, with some 42,000 under a "go-now" order and an additional 45,000 under a "get-set" warning. The fire has destroyed at least 32 homes and injured at least 9 people, including three first responders and six civilians.
The fire is being fueled by strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation. Authorities have declared a state of emergency in Washoe County, with Nevada's Governor Joe Lombardo ordering the National Guard to assist with firefighting efforts. The fire has spread rapidly due to its "extreme fire behavior," with flames jumping over fire trucks and making it difficult for responders to reach hotspots.
The evacuation zone has expanded to include parts of the University of Nevada campus, with authorities urging residents to stay away from the area for several days. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but officials have confirmed that it was human-caused.
Written for “Reno Nevada Wildfire Outbreak” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
A fast-moving Nevada wildfire exploded to more than 15,000 acres (6,000 hectares) on Sunday, pushing from the Sierra foothills toward the center of Reno and urging nearly 90,000 residents to evacuate as flames threatened neighborhoods and reached the edge of the University of Nevada campus.
asserted
flames → move → campus
The Hawk fire’s “GO NOW” evacuation zone had expanded to the edge of the university campus as strong, gusty winds, low humidity and dry vegetation fueled the blaze, according to Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue in Reno.
uncertain
winds → go → Reno
Of those urged to evacuate, 42,000 were under strict orders.
asserted
42,000 → urge → orders
An additional 45,000 people were in the evacuation warning zone, and encouraged to leave now and be prepared to stay away for several days to clear the roads for first-responders.
“If you have been told to evacuate, please don’t wait!” Hillary Schieve, Reno’s mayor, said in a statement posted on social media on Saturday night.
asserted
Schieve → encourage → night
“Structures have already been burned in this fire and your life is more important than a building.
asserted
life → burn → building
Evacuating before the fire arrives also allows our firefighters to focus their efforts on battling the blaze.”
asserted
firefighters → evacuate → blaze
Authorities confirmed three civilians and three first responders had been injured in the fire and several structures have been destroyed.
asserted
structures → confirm → fire
Officials said the fire was human-caused but did not provide additional details on how the fire was started, saying it was under investigation.
asserted
it → say → investigation
Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe county and mobilized the Nevada national guard.
asserted
Lombardo → declare → guard
Two helicopter crews were deployed to support aerial firefighting operations, while 60 troops were assigned to help police safeguard evacuated neighborhoods.
asserted
police → deploy → neighborhoods
However winds were whipping the flames, complicating the fight.
asserted
winds → whip → fight
“It was extremely confusing,” said Darin Balaam, the Washoe county sheriff, describing how changing winds sent the flames in different directions.
asserted
winds → say → directions
The fire had already proved to be a challenge on Saturday night, moving exceptionally fast, jumping over fire trucks and making it difficult for responders to get to hotspots while residents were trying to get out, Balaam said.
asserted
Balaam → prove → hotspots
The fire was so small on Saturday morning that it wasn’t even a concern, said Tyler Duvall, who went camping over the weekend.
asserted
who → say → weekend
“The wind really blew it up,” Duvall said.
asserted
Duvall → blow → it
“Approximately 400 personnel are currently working on the incident, with resources coming together from local, state and federal agencies, including ground crews and air resources,” the Truckee Meadows statement said.
asserted
statement → work → crews
The rapidly expanding fire was surrounded by neighborhoods, and nearly 10,000 homes and businesses in Washoe county were without power on Sunday.
asserted
homes → expand → Sunday
Portions of US Route 395, a major north-south highway, were closed because of the fire.
asserted
Portions → close → fire
Reno has a population of more than 280,000 residents.
asserted
Reno → have → residents
David Barb returned from a weekend hunting trip to find the fire had leveled his taxidermy shop, but his house nearby appeared to have been spared thanks to workers with a landscaping company who cut a fire break, he said.
asserted
he → return → break
His wife was home when the fire started on the other side of the mountain and later evacuated to a friend’s house.
asserted
fire → start → house
“I’m kind of devastated, but thank God everyone’s safe,” he said on Sunday.
asserted
he → ’m → Sunday
Washoe county emergency officials opened the Reno-Sparks Convention Center to evacuees, but said pets could not be brought there.
uncertain
pets → open → evacuees
Small and large animals were instead to be left at two other locations.
asserted
animals → leave → locations
Casinos in Reno offered discounts on hotel rooms to evacuees.
asserted
Casinos → offer → evacuees
The University of Nevada’s Reno campus remained just outside the evacuation zone on Sunday morning.
asserted
campus → remain → morning
The university, which had an enrollment of about 24,000 students in fall 2025, said officials had established an emergency response plan should conditions change.
asserted
conditions → have → plan
However, students who are new to the university were allowed to move in as early as 13 August.
asserted
who → allow → August
The Reno-Tahoe international airport also remained outside the evacuation zone, and commercial flights were unaffected on Sunday.
asserted
flights → remain → Sunday
The smaller Reno-Stead airport was closed to general aviation traffic because of the Hawk fire but remained open to firefighting aircraft.
asserted
airport → close → aircraft
Authorities were also closely watching a county detention facility located several blocks from the outer edge of the evacuation warning area.
asserted
Authorities → watch → area
“We have those inmates in mind and we are making sure that we have plans in place in case we may have to evacuate the facility,” said Darin Balaam, the Washoe county sheriff.
uncertain
Balaam → have → facility
The Hawk fire comes just weeks after three wildfires fueled by dry and windy conditions north of Reno forced more than 13,000 residents from their homes earlier this month, according to the Nevada national guard.
uncertain
wildfires → come → guard
Associated Press contributed reporting
asserted
Press → contribute → reporting
