Nevada Alert: The Hawk Fire in Reno has exceeded 23 square miles

The Hawk Fire, which intensified near the city of Reno in the U.S. state of Nevada, displaced thousands of people from their homes. Beginning on Saturday, the blaze spread on Sunday to the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest around Peavine Peak, affecting an area of more than 23 square miles. Officials said the fire was still out of control.

Evacuation Zone Expanded

Officials announced that, as the fire grew, about 42,000 people were placed in a zone that required 'immediate evacuation.' The evacuation area was said to extend to the boundary of the region where the University of Nevada is located. In addition, an evacuation warning was issued for approximately 45,000 people. Officials warned that those leaving the area might not be able to return for several days due to changing and expected strengthening winds.

Wind Complicates Firefighters' Work

Wind is a major factor in the fire's spread, while fire crews are trying to prevent the flames from crossing the main highway and reaching areas where homes and businesses are located. In a statement made on Sunday evening, crews reported observing 'extreme fire behavior' and said the wind was rapidly advancing the flames through dry vegetation. Officials noted that within the next 12 hours, moderate to high-intensity fire spread could occur in areas with abundant fuel.

At Least 6 People Injured

It was announced that at least six people were injured in the fire. Three of the injured were members of first‑responder teams, and the other three were civilians. Authorities said the blaze was human‑caused, but did not explain how they reached that conclusion or whether the fire was deliberate or accidental.

Homes and Vehicles Turned to Ash

In images shared on social media, some houses and vehicles were seen burning completely, leaving only their skeletons behind. It is still unclear how many homes became unusable in the blaze. A resident of the area named Cari Kieffer said she learned from the social‑media footage that her own house had also burned to the ground. She noted that only a charred basketball hoop remained from her home.

Evacuations Began Quickly

The fire’s rapid spread left some residents in the area with barely enough time to gather their belongings. Ruby Delatorre said she realized she was still in the evacuation zone when she returned from a concert. On Sunday, Delatorre walked to her home to try to retrieve some items, but she said she could not recover the majority of what remained.

Shelter Areas Opened in Reno

Washoe County emergency teams opened the Reno‑Sparks Convention Center for evacuees to use. However, it was reported that pets were not accepted at the center, and separate points were made available for small and large animals. Some casinos in Reno also offered discounted hotel rooms to the evacuees.

University Campus in the Danger Zone

Nevada University remained just outside the evacuation zone while about 20,000 undergraduate students were housed in dormitories over the weekend. Schools were also closed amid concerns that the fire could reach newly developed residential and commercial areas. Officials urged citizens to follow evacuation orders so that roads could be used by emergency responders.

Northern Nevada's Third Major Fire

The Hawk Fire became the third major wildfire that erupted in the rugged area north of Reno over the past two weeks. Fire officials said all three fires were linked to human activity. The blaze entered the record books as one of the many wildfires that occurred this summer in the dry, western United States.