Thousands forced to evacuate parts of Reno, Nevada, as new wildfire rages

Smoke billows in the distance as a wildfire burns in Reno, Nev., Sunday, August 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Haven Daley) Haven Daley/AP hide caption

Some 42,000 people in Reno, Nev. have been forced to evacuate, and another 45,000 have been told to prepare to leave, as a fast-growing wildfire spread toward neighborhoods in the northern part of the city on Sunday.

The blaze, known as the Hawk Fire, has grown to more than 15,000 acres since it began Saturday in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, according to data posted by the National Interagency Fire Center's Inciweb late Sunday.

"We can confirm that the fire was human caused," Shane Akerson, a battalion chief with the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and one of three incident commanders for the Hawk Fire, said at a press conference late Sunday morning. "However, that is still undergoing active investigation."

He said at least six people, including three first responders and three civilians, have been injured, and several properties have been destroyed. Some 800 emergency responders are battling the blaze.

The zone of people urged to "go now" reached the edge of the University of Nevada on Sunday. Officials say people evacuating should be prepared to stay away from home for several days, as unpredictable winds have complicated the fight to contain the blaze.

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has activated the National Guard and declared a state of emergency in Washoe County, which includes Reno and parts of Lake Tahoe. This releases federal resources needed to help contain the fire.

"This is an active and rapidly evolving situation, and I urge everyone in the affected areas to remain vigilant and follow the direction of local officials," Lombardo said Saturday in a statement posted on social media.