Hawk Fire

Hawk Fire
Part of the 2026 Nevada wildfires
Large smoke clouds rise over the flat gray foothills of a mountain, dark gray and black in lower levels and lightening at higher elevations.
The Hawk Fire on August 22, 2026
Smoke clouds, tainted dark yellow and beige by the sunset, blur mountains in the background. The smoke rises from a fire (not pictured) behind gray foothills west of downtown buildings.
Smoke clouds from the Hawk Fire at sunset August 22, shortly after it jumped U.S. Route 395
Blackened terrain of the northern slopes of a mountain otherwise covered in desert brush, seen behind an apparent warehouse and residential neighborhood.
Burn scar from the Hawk Fire on the northern slopes of Peavine Peak, seen on October 30, 2026
Blackened terrain and brush lies on the right side of an unburned dirt trail. Pink remnants of fire retardant lie to the left of the trail on unburned desert shrubland.
Comparison of unburned (left) and burned (right) landscape on the east side of the burned area, as seen on November 7, 2026. Fire retardant remnants can be seen in the upper left hand corner
Date
  • August 22 – September 9, 2026
LocationPeavine Peak, Nevada, United States
Coordinates39°35′13″N 119°55′56″W / 39.586920217°N 119.932138508°W / 39.586920217; -119.932138508
Statistics
Perimeter100% contained
Burned area15,085 acres (6,105 ha)
Impacts
Deaths1 civilian
Injuries3 firefighters
3 civilians
Evacuated42,000
Structures destroyed48 destroyed
8 damaged
Cost$15.4 million (suppression)
Ignition
CauseUnder investigation; human-caused

The Hawk Fire was a wildfire that burned in Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest on Peavine Peak, just outside of Reno, Nevada, United States. Preceded by two large regional wildfires earlier that month, the fire ignited around 11:30 am Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) August 22, 2026, from a human source that is still under investigation. It rapidly spread, driven by dry vegetation, strong winds, and low humidity, on a day where a red flag warning had been issued and would be fully contained on September 9. The Hawk Fire became the most destructive wildfire in Nevada history after destroying forty-seven residential structures and one commercial and damaging an additional eight homes.

The region was experiencing a record-low snowpack and was undergoing moderate drought. Evacuation orders and warnings were issued in and around Reno, Cold Springs, and Lemmon Valley on August 22. U.S. Route 395 was closed that evening, and it would reopen on August 24. The wind changed directions several times, complicating suppression efforts. The Hawk Fire would be mapped at 15,039.9 acres (6,086.4 ha) on August 23. Containment was achieved on the southern edge of the fire on August 24, leading to some evacuations being lifted, and containment increased to 85 percent on August 25. All roads reopened and most evacuations were lifted on August 26; the final evacuations were lifted on September 3.

The most destructive wildfire in Nevada history, the Hawk Fire destroyed forty-seven residential structures and one commercial structure and damaged eight residential structures, all in the North Valleys region. North Valleys Self Storage was destroyed by the fire. Suppression efforts cost $15.4 million. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency, and president Donald Trump signed a Presidential Emergency Declaration. The Washoe County School District canceled nearly all schools in the county on August 24 and 25; Truckee Meadows Community College also closed those days. Northern Nevada Health Systems closed two hospitals, and Renown Health closed multiple locations. Reno Stead Airport temporarily closed to non-military or firefighting aircraft. Three firefighters were injured during the initial response. Three civilians were injured and one died. Criticism of the response and evacuation notifications emerged. The Hawk Fire burn scar poses a threat of landslides and flooding. Several native plant ecosystems were damaged, with some expected to take several decades to fully recover.

Background

The Reno metropolitan area's "fire season" typically occurs in the summer months. The native vegetation of Peavine Peak, a foothill range of the Sierra Nevada, varies by elevation and direction of slope because the western slopes of the mountain receive the bulk of precipitation; the western foothills are largely covered in ponderosa pine and mountain mahogany, while sagebrush, antelope brush, and desert peach are abundant on the hills north and south of the mountain. Natural "canyon winds" influenced the Hawk Fire's initial spread. Several wildfires have historically burned on Peavine Peak and its foothills, including the Poeville Fire during the 2020 season and two small wildfires earlier in 2026, the 100-acre (40 ha) Peavine Fire in late July and the 111-acre (45 ha) Moose Ridge Fire in early August. The Poeville Fire burn scar resulted in minimal surface vegetation in the northeastern part of the Hawk Fire burn scar, resulting the land burning at low intensity with little change to existing conditions. The Bug Fire started further north of the Hawk Fire on August 8, which burned nearly 94,000 acres (38,000 ha) and destroyed nine residential structures. It was 94 percent contained when the Hawk Fire started. The Stallion Fire that burned over 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) near Pyramid Lake started on August 10, 98 percent contained when the Hawk Fire started. Both were human-caused.

The Washoe Zephyr is a routine, local wind that occurs in the Truckee Meadows, often occurring in the summer months. In the afternoon and evening, warm air rises from the ground, traveling west as it cools and sinks near the Sierra Nevada. This subsequently lowers atmospheric pressure in the Truckee Meadows. This sinking motion creates higher atmospheric pressure near the Sierra Nevada, and the movement of air from high pressure to low pressure creates wind.

A 2020 climate change assessment by the United States Forest Service (USFS) has shown snowfall and runoff timing in the Hawk Fire area has been decreasing. The area experienced a record low snowpack during the 2025–26 winter. The Reno metropolitan area experienced a "snow drought"; the first measurable snowfall at Reno–Tahoe International Airport on January 8, 2026. All of Washoe County had been under "moderate drought" conditions on August 25. A red flag warning was issued from 11 am to 11 pm on August 22 across portions of Western Nevada and Lassen County, California; predictions showed winds blowing 15–25 miles per hour (24–40 km/h), gusting up to 40 miles per hour (64 km/h), and humidity as low as 18 percent. Ultimately, winds on Peavine Peak experienced wind gusts up to 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). Regionally across the Northern Nevada on August 22, temperatures peaked between 90 and 100 °F (32 and 38 °C) and the low temperatures ranged from 60–70 °F (16–21 °C). The Reno metropolitan area lay on the outer bands of a high-pressure system centered along the California–Nevada border south of Lake Tahoe. After ignition, the Hawk Fire was driven by the strong wind and sere vegetation. Strong winds drove the Hawk Fire into areas of very dry, fine fuels and timber, particularly the invasive species cheatgrass.

The Hawk Fire burned and spread into a densely populated wildland-urban interface, an area where residential neighborhoods lie near fire-prone wild areas. The Yale School of the Environment described a wildland-urban interface as "half-wild, half-suburban". This leaves little space between structures and potential wildfires. Reno's population grew 26 percent between 2010 and 2025, largely attributed to Californians who moved for a lower cost of living. This influx of growth has led to residential expansions into previously wildland areas in a dry environment. The Somersett neighborhood, which lies south of where the Hawk Fire started, has been expanding into a wildland-urban interface; the base of Peavine Peak is surrounded by residential and commercial developments. Human expansion into the wild landscape has also led natural fire that clears excess vegetation to be suppressed rapidly. This has led to a buildup of fire fuels. The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District has spent several million dollars to remove dry, dead, or excessive vegetation. The State of Nevada passed Assembly Bill 376 in June 2025 that permits private insurers to exclude wildfire policies from standard homeowners policies. The bill took effect on January 1, 2026. Wildfires spreading into residential areas akin to the Hawk Fire make structure protection more difficult for first responders. On September 11, 2026, the State of Nevada reported no insurance companies had dropped standard wildfire insurance policies.

Peavine Peak is primarily composed of Jurassic-age metavolcanic rock and Cretaceous-age pluton of the Sierra Nevada Batholith. On the west and northwest sides of the mountain, the metavolcanic rock forms soils with high fracture rates, leading to high vegetation growth on soil and minimizes sediment load. The intrusive granodiorite near the western edge of the fire is naturally erosive and forms sandier soils. The younger sedimentary and igneous rock on the southern edge of the mountain is naturally prone to erosion, sediment loading, and shallow landslides. The Peavine Fault on the mountain's northeast side causes steep drainages that lead to alluvial fan deposits. The rocks on eastern Peavine Peak have undergone hydrothermal alteration and contain veins of copper, silver, and gold; the fire burned over several abandoned mines and an active lode mine. Human activities related to the mines has exposed volcanic soils, leading to localized sediment erosion. The eastern side of the mountain also contains steep watersheds.

Cause

Timelapse video of the Hawk Fire burning up Peavine Peak on August 22

Resources began responding to the Hawk Fire shortly before 11:25 am on August 22, 2026. The exact cause is currently undetermined and under investigation, but officials have confirmed the Hawk Fire is human-caused. An investigation is underway to determine a suspect for igniting the fire, either intentional or accidental. The Secret Witness service released on August 27 they would give $2,500 to people who could provide information on who may have started the Hawk Fire. The agency's chairman stated approximately one dozen tips have been sent in.

Progression

A vegetation fire was estimated at 15 acres (6.1 ha) and on–scene units via radio traffic stated it was moving at "a rapid rate of spread". It was designated as the "Hawk Fire" for its proximity to Hawk Meadow Trail. By 11:51 am, the fire was reported at 30 to 40 acres (12 to 16 ha). An evacuation order was soon ordered for a sparsely populated area, followed with several evacuation warnings west of U.S. Route 395 in Lemmon Valley, Stead, and Golden Valley and in Sierra County, California. Around 2 pm, the incident commander an additional ten fire engines, two bulldozers, and two hand crews from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The Hawk Fire was estimated at 2,500 acres (1,000 ha). The fire was threatening an estimated 1,000 residential structures, pushing northeast towards North Virginia Street between the Seneca and Copperfield neighborhoods. An evacuation center opened at the Evelyn Mount Community Center in central Reno. The evacuation warnings were upgraded to evacuation orders approximately one hour later. Soon after, new evacuation orders were issued south of U.S. Route 395, northwest of the fire; evacuation warnings were issued north of U.S. Route 395, including some zones in southern Cold Springs.

At night, large, bright-orange flames to the north are seen from a distance, spanning from the base of a mountain to its peak and eastern terminus near downtown city lights.
View of the Hawk Fire from south Reno at approximately 10:30 pm

Radio traffic around 5:38 pm indicated the fire was approaching North Virginia Street near Mohawk Lane; North Virginia Street was requested to be closed between Golden Valley Road and Red Rock Road. Another evacuation warning was issued in the Panther Valley neighborhood. All evacuations warning zones (aside from the aforementioned zone in Panther Valley) were upgraded to evacuation order zones by 6:39 pm. Radio traffic recorded the Hawk Fire jumped U.S. Route 395 near Peppermint Drive, mapped at 8,020.7 acres (3,245.9 ha) by CAL FIRE aircraft. Additional evacuation orders and warnings were issued by 8 pm: warnings south into Verdi and Somersett; warnings east up to North McCarran Boulevard and towards Sun Valley; orders further north in Lemmon Valley and warnings further north in Cold Springs and the Silver Knolls neighborhood. U.S. Route 395 was closed from Parr Boulevard to Red Rock Road near the California–Nevada state line. Another evacuation center was established at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center after the Evelyn Mount Center reached capacity, and it would see over 450 evacuees overnight. Evacuation warnings and orders were issued in the Somersett neighborhood, and Rancho San Rafael Regional Park closed. Evacuation routes out of Somersett were congested, with travel times between Somersett and downtown Reno reported over one hour. Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency for the Hawk Fire, directing state resources to contribute to local efforts via the Nevada Emergency Operations Center. Roughly 400 local, state, and federal firefighters had been assigned to the incident, with a team of Australian firefighters previously assigned to the Shoshone Fire in Churchill County called in to the fire that night. It was mapped at 10,522 acres (4,258 ha) later that night. Evacuations expanded overnight, north, east, and south of the fire's perimeter. The wind repeatedly changed directions and jumped over fire engines, complicating direct suppression efforts.

First responder vehicles are parked near on a gravel road in front of a wildfire (flames not pictured) as black and gray smoke rises.
Suppression vehicles on the Hawk Fire on August 23, 2026

The Washoe County Regional Animal Services opened as a small animal shelter, and the Ironwood Events Center functioned as a large animal shelter. U.S. Route 395 remained closed overnight into the morning. Overnight, NV Energy re-energized approximately 50,000 customers, and 250 customers south and west of U.S. Route 395 lost gas. The Hawk Fire was estimated at 13,000 acres (5,300 ha) that morning. An estimated 800 personnel were assigned to the fire including California hotshot crews and firefighters and aerial assets from the Bug and Stallion fires. Ten aerial firefighting aircraft began combatting the fire around 8:30 am. Evacuation orders and warnings now included just under 90,000 residents. The Hawk Fire continued spreading west towards Long Valley in Sierra County. California Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X that morning, "We're closely monitoring the #HawkFire" and the Sierra County Sheriff's Office was "closely monitoring fire conditions. Several aerial assets concentrated on the western edge of the fire throughout the afternoon, mapped at 15,039.9 acres (6,086.4 ha) by the NIFC by 3:05 pm. "Extreme fire behavior" was seen from the fire's large runs through heavy fuels.

The Hawk Fire had been making runs in areas of dense fuels. An additional 3,000 customers were re-energized, with all residents in Somersett and Mogul re-energized aside from three customers. A containment line was established along the southern perimeter near Somersett, resulting in containment increasing to 27 percent; evacuation orders were reduced to evacuation warnings in Somersett, and evacuation warnings further south were lifted. The number of residents under evacuation orders decreased from 42,000 to 23,000. Authorities reportedly stated, "[we] have are having issues with drones", with one identified where the fire jumped U.S. Route 395. Several evacuation orders were reduced to warnings east of U.S. Route 395, near the White Lake and Granite Peak communities. U.S. Route 395 and all its exit ramps (aside from the North Virginia Street exit) reopened that afternoon. A lone smoke plume would be seen around 4 pm. A community meeting took place at Idlewild Park that evening.

The Hawk Fire was mapped at 15,066.8 acres (6,097.3 ha) early on August 25. The evacuation warnings issued in Sierra County were lifted by 8:26 am. One evacuation order zone south of U.S. Route 395 was reduced to a warning. Reno Stead Airport reopened to general aviation operations. Evacuation orders were reduced to evacuation warnings north and east of U.S. Route 395, along with evacuation orders in around Golden Valley, Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, and the Raleigh Heights neighborhood. Containment increased to 85 percent, and forward progress was stopped. Suppression efforts between August 22 and August 25 cost up to $8.8 million. All road closures and most evacuation orders were lifted on August 26, and the final evacuations would be lifted on September 3. The Hawk Fire reached 100 percent containment on September 9.

The Bull Fire, an unrelated wildfire that started west of the Hawk Fire burn scar on October 2, 2026, was driven by wind into the Hawk Fire burn scar. This provided a natural containment feature. The Bull Fire was fully contained on October 15 after growing to 1,529 acres (619 ha).

Criticism of response

Evacuation traffic backed up on a road surrounded by desert shrub. Light brown and gray smokes rises behind hills.
Evacuation traffic backed up on North Virginia Street

Several residents across the Reno metropolitan area were upset that there was minimal communication by first responders, primarily the local government, in the initial 48 hours of the Hawk Fire and they had to retrieve most information online. A member of the press asked the Reno Fire Department Incident Commander about the lack of response during the August 24 meeting at Idlewild Park. He stated, "We have been here 48 hours since this fire started and the amount of ground that fire covered with multiple fronts affecting two geographic parts of our valley" and stated the local agencies had been communicating information "as fast as we possibly can". News agency This is Reno reported they did not receive any news releases of evacuations until management of the fire was transitioned to federal agencies. One resident stated "It's almost like we had way too much irrelevant information and not enough actual, concrete information". Officials reportedly did not answer of leave time for audience questions. This is Reno also criticized government officials for "self-congratulatory" videos related to the response.

A member of the Reno City Council who evacuated criticized that several evacuation routes were under construction and several traffic lights were malfunctioning. One resident said there were not enough roads to efficiently evacuate the apartments where the Hawk Fire burned. An evacuee in Lemmon Valley reported being stuck in traffic for four hours and evacuating through dirt roads. The Reno Police Chief believed that closing U.S. Route 395 only to oncoming traffic and keeping it open for thru and exiting traffic would have made the evacuation process more efficient. He told KOLO-TV, "The fact that we didn't have more deaths is amazing given the conditions that we saw out there that day".

The son of one man who suffered burns when his trailer was burned reported the burn victims never received any evacuation alerts on their cell phones. The man, who lived in the trailer with his girlfriend and her aunt, received bad burns; his girlfriend's aunt later succumbed. The Washoe County Emergency Management Administrator issued public alerts: push notifications were sent to registered cell phones, but broadcast alerts through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) did not. Rave, a subsidiary of Motorola, told the Emergency Management Administrator she did not select the option to send EAS alerts, unlike what she claims. A researcher with the University of Colorado Boulder's Natural Hazards Center reported that many residents likely did not receive the push notifications because they had not registered their cell phone; the former chairperson of the Nevada Emergency Alert System said residents did not receive the messages because wireless service providers did not sufficiently implement the system.

Effects

Damage and injuries

A self storage container that previously said "RV STORAGE" is burned on the right part of the image. Burned soil and bushes lie in the foreground.
Burned storage container at North Valleys Self Storage, seen from U.S. Route 395 on October 30, 2026

Mayor of Reno Hillary Schieve stated on X on August 22, "structures have already been burned in this fire". Forty-seven residential structures and one commercial structure were destroyed and eight were damaged, making the Hawk Fire the most destructive wildfire in Nevada history. All destroyed structures were in the North Valleys, including North Valleys Self Storage. One locally-owned taxidermy shop was destroyed. The initial damage assessment released on August 24 tallied thirty-two structures destroyed and six damaged. The disaster recovery company Bright Harbor reported 13 of the 59 victims who self-reported damage had no wildfire insurance. Northern Nevada Public Health declared a local public health emergency on August 28 after the Bug, Hawk, and Stallion fires. Residents were told to avoid debris removal due to hazardous materials, ash, and debris. Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford's office received reports of price gouging.

NV Energy de-energized approximately 59,000 electrical customers and 250 gas customers. Widespread outages occurred for power grid stability after multiple important transmission facilities were impacted by the Hawk Fire. All power would be restored by 4:15 pm on August 27. Over 100 power poles belonging to NV Energy were destroyed. The company sent 11 crews to repair its damaged gas and power infrastructure.

The Nevada National Guard has mobilized 60 troops to guard evacuated neighborhoods. Governor Joe Lombardo issued a state of emergency on August 22. The State of Nevada submitted a request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on August 22 for a Fire Management Assistance Grant. It was accepted, allowing for FEMA to financially cover the cost of up to 75 percent of the suppression efforts. On August 28, Lombardo requested a Presidential Emergency Declaration from Donald Trump; it was signed on September 2. The declaration permits FEMA to provide technical assistance and subject professionals to improve the recovery process. The Hawk and Bug fires prompted the Small Business Administration to declare Nevada a disaster area on September 11, allowing homeowners, renters, and businesses to apply for federal disaster loans. Suppression efforts cost $15.4 million.

Three firefighters and three civilians were injured. The firefighters received minor burns during initial response. An 83-year-old woman who was transferred to University of California, Davis Medical Center succumbed to her injuries on August 27. The woman killed, along with her niece and niece's boyfriend, suffered the burns when their trailer was run over by flames.

Closures and evacuations

Roughly 14,000 residential structures were placed under evacuation orders; An estimated 42,000 residents were in evacuation order zones and 45,000 separate residents in evacuation warning zones. Evacuation orders and warnings were issued south to the Somersett neighborhood and Verdi, east towards Sun Valley along North McCarran Boulevard, and north into Cold Springs, Stead, and Lemmon Valley. Several casino resorts offered discounted rates to evacuees. Evacuees were unable to find hotel rooms or room for pets. The initial evacuation order zone included railroad tracks belonging to Union Pacific Railroad.

The evacuation order zone lay just outside of the main campus of University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). Many students and staff were under evacuation notices, including some student apartments in evacuation warnings zones. The university held classes for the first day of the fall semester on August 24, but some teachers reported classes at half attendance. KTVN interviewed two students who disapproved of the university's decisions. Truckee Meadows Community College canceled in-person and remote classes on August 24 and 25, the first two days of the fall semester. The Washoe County School District (WCSD) closed all schools (aside from schools in Incline Village and Gerlach K–12) on August 24 and 25. Thirteen schools were closed on August 26. Several private schools were also closed. The Children's Discovery Museum lowered admission to $5 while schools were canceled.

Renown Health closed several of its locations, including two urgent care centers and two UNR University Health locations. Northern Nevada Health Systems evacuated and closed ER at North Valleys, and Northwest Specialty Hospital, both were evacuated on August 22 and reopened on August 28. Reno Stead Airport temporarily closed to general aviation operations, remaining open only to military and firefighting aircraft. North Valleys Regional Park and Rancho San Rafael Regional Park were closed and evacuated. Officials "closely monitor[ed]" the fire due to its proximity to Washoe County Jail. Personnel from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office were located to prepare for a potential evacuation and "everybody [was] on standby".

Environmental impacts

A satellite image over a desert shows red spots that symbolize active flames from a wildfire, with a hazy layer of smoke drifting northeast over a large lake.
Satellite view of the Hawk Fire on August 22, showing smoke drifting northeast across Northern Nevada

Smoke from the Hawk Fire drifted across Nevada due to prevailing winds, so smoke impacts were minimal in California and around Lake Tahoe. Smoke lingered in the Reno metropolitan area, but it was forecast to clear up due to windier conditions on August 25. The Reno Gazette-Journal wrote on August 25 that smoke was a potential concern for the Burning Man event that started on August 30.

Geologic concerns

The southern side of a mountain is seen at sunrise. The western part is blackened with isolated snow-capped peaks while the eastern part is natural gray terrain.
View of the southern part of the Hawk Fire burn scar at sunrise on November 3, 2026.

The Hawk Fire burned over several abandoned mine lands, including several that were burned over at moderate to severe intensity. Seven of the abandoned mine land sites in the burn scar are known to have closures within the mine due to hazardous polyurethane foam; such closure areas were investigated for damage, but none received any fire damage and accessibility or visibility did not change. The abandoned mine land sites were surrounded by little vegetation.

Natural drainage has occurred in the steep watersheds in the southern part of the burn scar, creating deep gullies in volcanic soil. Granitics on the western edge of the fire that are naturally vulnerable to rockfalls and erosion have seen isolated sliding and rockfalls. Areas with granatics that have seen sliding are relatively flat and burned at low intensity. Debris flow was reported at the base of several steep slopes, particularly those near Bull Ranch Creek. The debris fan was reported to be very stable, wide, and flat, with minimal stream dissection. Erosion and debris slides have presented temporary local hazards to water quality and capacity.

A map shows soil burn severity levels from a wildfire. Dark green land was unburned or burned at very low intensity, light green land at low intensity, yellow at moderate intensity, and red at high intensity.
Soil burn severity map of the Hawk Fire

The Burned Area Emergency Response team (BAER), in conjunction with a geologist from the University of Nevada, Reno and a hydrologist from the National Weather Service, predicted maximum rainfall thresholds at 1.2 inches (30 mm) per hour within one year and 1.7 inches (43 mm) within two years. Several watersheds were reported to have a high risk of geologic hazards but did not have the steep slopes or sediment loading to facilitate debris flows during routine periods of precipitation. The Jenne and Indian ravines on the eastern side of Peavine Peak both face a 60–80% risk of debris flow during rain events of 1.26 inches (32 mm) per hour. These ravines have already transported sediment as proved by alluvial fan deposits. Most riparian vegetation in the Jenne Ravine is largely unburned, minimizing major flood flows and sediment deposits. Copper Canyon is the geographic feature with the highest debris flow combined hazard burned by the Hawk Fire. Fine sediment lies downstream and the channel's headwaters are laden with fine sediment.

Soil burn severity from the Hawk Fire
Severity level Area Percent of
burned area
Very low/unburned 981 acres (397 ha) 7%
Low 12,602 acres (5,100 ha) 84%
Moderate 1,182 acres (478 ha) 8%
High 223 acres (90 ha) 1%

On the western side of Peavine Peak, the BAER team forecast a 40–60 percent chance of a sediment-induced event occurring in the Brooklyn Creek Watershed in 1.26 inches (32 mm) of hourly rain. It is composed of erosive rocks that produce high volumes of sediment in shallow landslides and sediment loads in the creek's primary channels. However, the gradient of the slope (found with LiDAR imagery) is under 23 percent, so debris flows from Brooklyn Creek could not impact infrastructure. The Bull Ranch Creek Watershed was also found to have a 40–60 percent chance of sediment-induced events in similar conditions. Debris flow has been found at the base of the creek's headwaters that do not expand onto the alluvial fan. The alluvial fan does not show signs of debris levees. North of Bull Ranch Creek, an unnamed watershed shows a 60–80 percent chance of similar risks under similar conditions of 1.26 inches (32 mm) of hourly rain. Where the upper and lower rocks meet, the channel is more confined and is loaded with fine sediment and boulders. The Jones Creek Watershed was shown to have a 40–60 percent chance of sediment-induced events during periods of 1.26 inches (32 mm) hourly, which had high concentrations of land that burned at moderate to high intensity. The lower portion of the watershed has slope gradients between 10 and 30 percent, high enough to support debris flow transport.

Overall, the chance of debris flows in most areas is very low because most burned watersheds do not have slope gradients over 23 percent and long landslide runout areas generally have slope gradients below 10 percent. Debris flows from stream headwaters are unlikely to extend beyond the base of the major headwaters. Shallow landslides are the most common geologic hazard observed. It is expected to increase where the Hawk Fire has stripped surface vegetation and increased hydrophobicity, but the BAER team reported debris flow chances were unlikely to increase in the burn scar. Very few trails or roads are located adjacent to steep slopes (generally at least 35 percent slope gradient) with rockfall hazard. Several recreational roads and trails running beneath steep watersheds. Several unauthorized off-road vehicle trails pass through hazardous slopes and watersheds, presenting a fatal risk during periods of intense rainfall. Hydrophobicity levels were generally inconsistent across the burn scar in varying levels of burn severity.

Heat absorption from darker burned ash and soil, combined with strong mountain winds typical just east of the Sierra Nevada, created ash and dust devils in the burn scar; they were predicted to continue until wetting rains in the fall. These locally redistributed ash and soil across the burn scar. Additional wind erosion is likely to impact the burn scar until vegetation recovery.

Hydrologic impacts

A soil burn severity map of a wildfire is overlain by a map showing six drainage basin boundaries and their tributaries, drawn in sky blue.
Hawk Fire soil burn severity map, zoomed out to show impacted drainage basins and their tributaries

Several United States Forest Service (USFS) sites lie in floodplains and other low-lying areas are threatened by runoff, floating debris, erosion, and sedimentation. Hazardous watershed response is expected to impact USFS roads, including Forest Service Roads 41128, 41643 and 41419 that are well-used access routes to recreation and forest management purposes. Hiking trails and campsites, especially those near low-lying water crossings now vulnerable to flooding, may present hazards to humans. Banks may erode from subsequent flooding, leading to additional trees collapsing. Slope failure, woody debris falls, and increased sediment delivery could damage Forest Service roads and structures below.

The varying elevation and topography of the Hawk Fire burn scar (peaking at roughly 5,280 feet (1,610 m) on Peavine Peak and 5,100 feet (1,600 m) near Red Rock Road) leads to a variation in the average snowfall between several watersheds. Peavine Peak's north-northwest–south-southeast ridge serves as the headwaters of six Hydrological Unit Code (HUC) areas. The Hawk Fire burned portions of twelve watersheds, including the Hunter Creek HUC, which is mostly private land that lies over Somersett that drains in the Truckee River. On USFS lands in the western part of the burn scar, near the areas that burned at highest intensity, three HUCs were impacted: the Cold Spring Valley, Long Valley Creek, and Bull Ranch Creek (the lattermost of which drains into the Truckee River) HUCs in northwest part of the burn scar. The majority of area burned in HUC watersheds burned at very low intensity.

When wildfires modify soil structure and vegetation cover, they increase runoff, erosion, and peak flow, but overlying vegetation, pine needles, or plant litter While trees with remaining canopies often lead to ground cover and protection in burn areas due to needle shedding, the Hawk Fire burned in an area dominated by ground vegetation that was largely stripped, even in areas that burned at low severity. The BAER team calculated 97.6 percent of the burn area does not have remaining canopies.

Floodwater is likely to be contaminated with ash and sediment, therefore increasing the volume of runoff. This could bypass or "negatively impact" infrastructure designed to handle typical flooding. Bulking factors applied were 1.25 for soil burned at low intensity, 1.55 for moderate, and 2.20 for high burn severity. Overall, bulked peak flows are anticipated to be between 1.4 and 1.6 times that of pre-fire flows. Watershed responses to the Hawk Fire are expected to chronologically transition from the initial flush of ash, rill, gully, and mass wasting erosion in steep drainages, and finally increased peak flows and deposition.

Vegetation impacts

Anticipated vegetation recovery
Vegetation Recovery time
(in years)
Grassland 1–3
Riparian 2–8
Sagebrush 10–20
Low sagebrush "Multiple decades"
Montane chaparral 3–5
Pine 10–50
Bitterbrush 10–30
Mountain mahogany "Multiple decades"

Ground vegetation in areas burned at low intensity have been predicted to regrow two to three years after the Hawk Fire. Land burned at moderate or high intensity it predicted to fully recover three to forty years after the fire, attributed to soil modification and tree mortality rates. Tree canopy destruction is common across such areas. Grass and shrublands dominate land burned at low intensity at high elevations and the north, east, and south parts of the burn scar. Land burned at moderate to high severity in these areas were characterized by dense shrubs, mountain mahogany, and riparian vegetation, primarily in areas of sheltered topography or where moisture from groundwater is at the surface. Mixed forests of deciduous and coniferous species were burned in the western part of the burn scar. Channels and surrounding land here are expected to have less sediment surface runoff from pine needle and wood debris coverage. A critical habitat area was disturbed by the Hawk Fire and suppression efforts. Two dozer lines through the area have been repaired.

Low burn severity was predominant in areas previously dominated by less dense grasses, shrubs, and previously burned land. Vegetation recovery is expected to be rapid despite above-average hilltop erosion rates throughout the first winter. Soil aggregates are typically weakened in such conditions, leaving a risk of erosion during the region's routine gusty winds. Moderate burn severity was prevalent in areas of mountain mahogany, shrubland, and stands of aspen, where partial and complete canopy loss was recorded. Roots were burned at varying depths. Partially burned yet standing conifer stands are expected to partially mitigate accelerated erosion. High burn severity was mostly seen in the northern slopes of Peavine Peak with conifers and dense groves of mountain mahogany and shrubs.

Exposed soil could cause the rapid spread of invasive species sourced from contaminated equipment and vehicles. Artificial firebreaks may have been constructed with contaminated material. Approximately 12 percent of USFS lands burned have a chance of noxious weed or invasive species outbreaks.

Growth and containment table

Fire containment status Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained;
Date Area burned Personnel Containment
August 22 10,523 acres (4,259 ha) —
0%
August 23 15,039 acres (6,086 ha) 400
0%
August 24 15,051 acres (6,091 ha) 720
27%
August 25 15,066 acres (6,097 ha) 816
85%
August 26 15,085 acres (6,105 ha) 586
85%
August 27 570
93%
August 28 550
95%
August 29 249
98%
—
September 9 15,067 acres (6,097 ha) —
100%

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ All times are in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) unless otherwise noted.
  2. ↑ Containment measures control lines around a fire's perimeter that the fire should not cross. When a fire reaches 100% containment, a line has been built around the fire perimeter. Containment does not mean a hazard no longer exists in or around the fire perimeter or the fire has stopped burning.
  3. ↑ An evacuation warning signifies there is a potential threat to life or property and an evacuation order is a lawful order to evacuate due to immediate threat to life or property.
  4. ↑ The Washoe County Citizen Advisory Board ward for the North Valleys includes the northernmost stretch of U.S. Route 395 in Nevada north of Peavine Peak, northwest of Sun Valley.
  5. ↑ All monetary values are in 2026 USD unless otherwise noted.
  6. ↑ The National Weather Service defines measurable snowfall as a snowfall event with at least 0.1 inches (2.5 mm) of snow accumulation.
  7. ↑ The United States Drought Monitor classifies dry or drought-stricken areas in five levels: D0 means "abnormally dry" and D4 means "exceptional drought". D1, or moderate drought, is generally classified as 10.01 or 20.00 percentile for precipitation.
  8. ↑ Fine fuels include pine needles, leaves, and grasses, live or dead. To be characterized as "fine", they are typically under 0.25 inches (6.4 mm) in diameter and gain or lose moisture within one hour. They are receptive to wildfire ignition and spread.
  9. ↑ A shallow landslide originates in the upper layers of rock and soil, often on steep edges. They are rapid, triggered by sustained intense rainfall.
  10. ↑ A hand crew from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection typically consists of one fire captain, one fire apparatus engineer, and about fourteen wildland firefighters.
  11. ↑ Forward progress is the complete stop of a wildfire's spread. It does not necessarily mean the fire is fully contained or extinguished.
  12. ↑ A portion of the lower blackened part of the mountain is from the Moose Ridge Fire.
  13. ↑ A debris fan is a triangular landform formed near the intersection of a tributary valley and a larger valley from deposition.
  14. ↑ A rainfall threshold is the measure or severity of rainfall required to induce a "sediment-related disaster".
  15. ↑ Channel confinement refers to how much a channel is limited in its lateral movement.
  16. ↑ Landslide runout is generally measured as the height-to-length ratio that is often influenced by the slope.
  17. ↑ Peak flows, also known as high flow statistics, are estimates of the highest flow event streams or rivers predicted to occur over a given amount of time.
  18. ↑ Bulking refers to when displaced geologic material has a large volume than the hole it was displaced from.

Citations

  1. ↑ "What Does Wildfire Containment Mean & How is it Measured?". wfca.com. July 23, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Know the Difference: What Evacuation Warnings and Orders Mean". www.news.caloes.ca.gov. March 14, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Washoe County Citizen Advisory Boards | North Valleys" (PDF). www.washoecounty.gov. Washoe County, Nevada. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  4. ↑ Heyl, Katelyn; Snow, Henry (April 12, 2024). "Reno in Flames". storymaps.arcgis.com.
  5. 1 2 3 Godoy, Maria (August 23, 2026). "Thousands forced to evacuate parts of Reno, Nevada, as new wildfire rages". NPR. Retrieved November 8, 2026.
  6. ↑ Godwin 1958, p. 4.
  7. 1 2 3 Schwartz, Levi (August 26, 2026). "Hawk Fire Reaches 85% Containment as Reno Residents Begin Returning Home". Headlines & Global News. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  8. ↑ McAndrew, Siobhan (June 27, 2020). "Poeville Fire on Peavine Peak: What we know about the blaze that burned a home as hundreds evacuated". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
  9. ↑ Meehan, Jeffrey (July 21, 2026). "Peavine Fire held at 100 acres after forward progress stopped". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
  10. ↑ O'Boyle, Brenna (August 8, 2026). "Moose Ridge Fire in northwest Reno grows to 111 acres". KOLO-TV. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
  11. ↑ Stempniewicz, Goss 2026, p. 5.
  12. ↑ Sheridan, Kevin (August 13, 2026). "9 homes destroyed in Bug Fire". KOLO-TV. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Branson-Potts, Hailey (August 26, 2026). "Reno became an affordable, booming destination. Fires show the limits of all that growth". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  14. ↑ Dreier, Natalie (August 24, 2026). "90K residents urged to leave as Nevada wildfire threatens homes". KIRO-TV. Retrieved November 8, 2026.
  15. ↑ Schilling, Angela (July 9, 2020). "Washoe Zephyr Explained". www.2news.com. KTVN. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  16. ↑ Merrifield, Kozlowski 2026, p. 3.
  17. ↑ Garcia, Jessica (September 11, 2026). "Forecasters: Wetter winter coming with El Niño". www.nevadaappeal.com. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Average Dates of the First Fall Snowfall". www.weather.gov. Pueblo, Colorado: National Weather Service. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
  19. ↑ Meehan, Jeffrey (September 5, 2026). "When does Reno get its first snow? What to expect in an El Niño year". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Drought Classification". droughtmonitor.unl.edu. United States Drought Monitor. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
  21. ↑ U.S. Drought Monitor Nevada — August 25, 2026. droughtmonitor.unl.edu (map). United States Drought Monitor. August 27, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Red Flag Warning issued for many parts of northern Nevada". KTVN. August 22, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Daily Weather Maps | Saturday, August 22, 2026". www.wpec.ncep.noaa.gov. United States Department of Commerce. August 23, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  24. 1 2 3 4 "Fast-growing Hawk Fire near Reno, Nevada forces thousands to evacuate". CBS News. August 23, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Fine fuels". www.nwcg.gov. National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
  26. 1 2 Waldenberger, George (August 25, 2026). "Weather Why's: What makes a wildfire spread so quickly?". KOMO-TV. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Suburban Sprawl Puts Western Homes at Risk from Wildfires". e360.yale.edu. Yale School of the Environment. September 1, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  28. ↑ Recamara, Josh (August 24, 2026). "Reno wildfire hits Nevada homes under its brand-new wildfire exclusion law". Insurance Business Magazine. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  29. 1 2 3 Starbuck, Lucia (September 11, 2026). "Recent Reno wildfires spike homeowners insurance fears". KUNR. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Landslide Resources". www.usgs.gov. United States Geological Survey. January 25, 2024. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
  31. ↑ Stempniewicz, Goss 2026, pp. 3, 5.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Hawk Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  33. 1 2 Park, Hanna; Golllandeau, Martin (August 23, 2026). "Fast-growing Hawk Fire forces evacuations in Reno, Nevada governor declares emergency". CNN. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Reno's uncontained Hawk Fire was caused by humans, authorities say". KVVU-TV. August 23, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  35. ↑ McAndrew, Siobhan (August 25, 2026). "Search continues for person who started Hawk Fire". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  36. ↑ O'Boyle, Brenna (August 28, 2026). "$2,500 reward offered for information leading to who started the Hawk Fire". KOLO-TV. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  37. ↑ Hart, Joe (October 15, 2026). "Tips trickle in as Hawk, Bull fire investigations continue". KRNV-DT. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  38. ↑ "What's in a name? When it comes to fires, a lot". This is Reno. August 25, 2026. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McAndrew, Siobhan; McGinness, Brett; Hidalgo, Jason; Meehan, Jeffrey; Young, Jaedyn (August 23, 2026). "Hawk Fire evacuation zone expands south into Somersett, northwest Reno". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  40. ↑ "CAL FIRE Firefighter Hand Crews" (PDF). www.fire.ca.give. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Retrieved November 6, 2026.
  41. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Evacuations ongoing as Hawk Fire grows 10,500+ acres near Peavine Mountain". KTVN. August 23, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  42. 1 2 O'Boyle, Brenna (August 23, 2026). "Hawk Fire forces evacuations and road closures in north Reno". KOLO-TV. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  43. ↑ O'Boyle, Brenna (August 23, 2026). "450+ Hawk Fire evacuees spent night at convention center evacuation shelter". KOLO-TV. Retrieved November 6, 2026.
  44. 1 2 McAndrew, Siobhan (August 23, 2026). "Hawk Fire evacuees struggled to find rooms, shelter pets". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved November 8, 2026.
  45. ↑ Russell, Terri (August 26, 2026). "Australian firefighters on the Hawk Fire". KOLO-TV. Retrieved November 8, 2026.
  46. ↑ Tennyson, Warren (August 23, 2026). "Hawk Fire grows to 10,522 acres northwest of Reno; 0% contained". KSNV. Retrieved November 6, 2026.
  47. 1 2 3 McGinness, Brett; Meehan, Jeffrey; McAndrew, Siobhan; Hidalgo, Jason; Robison, Mark (August 23, 2026). "Hawk Fire Sunday updates: 15K acres; Reno-Sparks schools closed Monday". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Hawk Fire evacuations in Reno, Nevada, slightly eased but thousands remain on high alert". CBS News. August 24, 2026. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  49. 1 2 McGinness, Brett; Hidalgo, Jason; McAndrew, Siobhan; Young, Jaedyn (August 25, 2026). "Reno Hawk Fire updates Monday: U.S. 395 opens, more evacuations lifted". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  50. 1 2 3 McGinness, Brett; Young, Jaedyn; McAndrew, Siobhan; Hidalgo, Jason; Robison, Mark (August 25, 2026). "Hawk Fire Tuesday: Classes canceled Wednesday for 13 WCSD schools". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  51. ↑ "Forward Progress". ein.az.gov. Arizona Emergency Information Network. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  52. ↑ Everman, Hannah (August 26, 2026). "Crews make 'good progress' on Hawk Fire containment; some evacuations reduced". KRNV-DT. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  53. ↑ Hildebrand, Kurt (August 25, 2026). "Update: Hawk Fire at 93 percent containment". Nevada Appeal. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  54. ↑ "Bull Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved November 10, 2026.
  55. 1 2 "More questions than answers: Residents express frustration with lack of information during Hawk Fire". This is Reno. August 25, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  56. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Bert (September 4, 2026). "Residents criticize Hawk Fire communication strategy". KUNR. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  57. ↑ Conrad, Bob; Hackbarth, Kristen (August 30, 2026). "Editorial: Social media videos trump public safety messages during wildfires again". This is Reno. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  58. ↑ Benito, Emily (September 4, 2026). "City leaders face criticism over Hawk Fire evacuation delays". KOLO-TV. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  59. ↑ Palma, Maria (August 28, 2026). "Hawk Fire leaves Reno family grieving, rebuilding and questioning evacuation alerts". KUNR. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  60. ↑ Johnson, Bert (September 18, 2026). "Hawk Fire alert failure illustrates flaws in national system". KUNR. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  61. ↑ McAndrew, Siobhan (August 25, 2026). "Search continues for person who started Hawk Fire". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  62. ↑ "Fast-moving wildfire threatens Reno, Nevada, forcing thousands to evacuate". KPLC. Associated Press. August 23, 2026. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  63. 1 2 3 Hackbarth, Kristen (August 24, 2026). "Hawk Fire: 32 homes destroyed, damage assessment continues". This is Reno. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  64. ↑ "NNPH declares Local Public Health Emergency following Bug, Hawk and Stallion fires". washoelife.washoecounty.gov. Washoe County, Nevada. August 28, 2026. Retrieved November 10, 2026.
  65. ↑ Sheridan, Kevin (August 24, 2026). "AG Ford warns businesses of price gouging during Hawk Fire". KVVU-TV. KOLO-TV. Retrieved November 8, 2026.
  66. ↑ O'Boyle, Brenna (August 28, 2026). "Power restored to all customers impacted by Hawk Fire". KOLO-TV. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  67. 1 2 "Wildfire approaches Reno, Nevada, forcing thousands to evacuate their neighborhoods". Associated Press. August 23, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  68. ↑ "FEMA Approves Fire Management Assistance Grant for Hawk Fire in Washoe County" (Press release). Oakland, California: Federal Emergency Management Agency. August 24, 2026. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  69. ↑ Lewis, Linsey (September 2, 2026). "Trump signs emergency declaration for Hawk Fire recovery efforts". KLAS-TV. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  70. ↑ "Bug and Hawk fire survivors can apply for SBA disaster assistance loans". This is Reno. September 14, 2026. Retrieved November 8, 2026.
  71. ↑ "Incident Management Situation Report for Thursday September 3, 2026 – 0730 MDT" (PDF). www.nifc.gov. National Interagency Fire Center. September 3, 2026. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
  72. 1 2 "Fast-moving wildfire in Reno, Nevada, forces tens of thousands to evacuate homes". The Guardian. August 23, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  73. ↑ Greenwood, Amanda; Silverman, Hollie; Backus, Alex (August 24, 2026). "Hawk Fire Evacuation Map as 32 Homes Destroyed, 7 Injured". Newsweek. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  74. ↑ Hebert, Olivia (August 28, 2026). "Hawk Fire's first known fatality identified as 83-year-old Reno woman". SFGate. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  75. 1 2 Maglunog, Tristan; Harrison, Jenna; Moore, Jack (August 23, 2026). "Fast-growing Hawk Fire explodes to more than 10,000 acres, spurs evacuations outside Reno". ABC News. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  76. ↑ O'Boyle, Brenna (August 23, 2026). "Rail Aware responds to railroad safety concerns caused by Hawk Fire". KOLO-TV. Retrieved November 9, 2026.
  77. ↑ Potijaroen, Tisha (August 24, 2026). "University of Nevada holds first day of classes as Hawk Fire burns near campus". KOLO-TV. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  78. ↑ How UNR students are reacting as they prepare to return to school during the Hawk Fire. KTVN. August 23, 2026. Event occurs at 1:06–1:28. Retrieved November 8, 2026.
  79. ↑ Perez, Kaylynn (August 25, 2026). "UNR will remain open amid Hawk Fire, TMCC campuses open". KRNV-DT. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  80. 1 2 McGinness, Brett (August 26, 2026). "Hawk Fire: WCSD resumes for all but 13 schools; TMCC back in session". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
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  83. ↑ "Renown reopens locations closed Monday due to Hawk Fire". KTVN. August 25, 2026. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
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  89. ↑ "Debris and Mud Flows". coloradogeologicalsurvey.org. Colorado Geological Survey. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
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  92. ↑ Ligong, Sandra; Mohd Sidek, Lariyah; Hayder, Gasim; Mohd Dohm, Norlida (October 12, 2022). "Application of Rainfall Threshold for Sediment-Related Disasters in Malaysia: Status, Issues and Challenges". www.mdpi.com. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
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Works cited