Firefighters in Nevada reported progress on Monday as they increased containment of a wildfire that has destroyed dozens of homes near Reno. The Hawk Fire, which started on Saturday, led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents and has burned more than 15,000 acres of grass, brush, and forest.
The fire broke out in the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains near the California border, an area characterized by high-tech industry and resorts. It marks the second significant wildfire to affect the Truckee River valley in recent weeks. Officials stated the fire was caused by human activity, though an investigation into whether it was accidental or intentional is ongoing.
By Monday, the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District reported that containment had reached 27%. Chief Richard Edwards confirmed at least 32 homes were destroyed and six others damaged, noting that damage assessments are continuing. Seven people, including four civilians and three emergency personnel, sustained minor burns during the initial stages of the fire on Saturday. No deaths have been reported.
The scale of the response involves more than 900 firefighters, including personnel from 15 U.S. states and international crews from Australia and New Zealand. This mobilization reflects the broader pressure on firefighting resources as dozens of blazes continue to burn across the Western United States. The fire has scorched 15,000 acres, which translates to roughly 23 square miles of land on the outskirts of Reno, affecting both private property and land adjacent to the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
What happens next involves a continued canvassing of the fire zone by damage-assessment teams, which Chief Edwards indicated will likely lead to an increase in the reported number of destroyed properties. While some evacuation orders were lifted Monday afternoon as the threat diminished, thousands of residents remain waiting for official clearance to return to their homes. Investigation into the specific human cause of the ignition also continues.