Washoe County Wildfire Emergency
Hawk Fire Prompts State of Emergency and Mass Evacuations in Washoe County
Key Points
Gov. Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency for Washoe County, expanding coordination and access to state resources beyond the county-level action described in the summary.
Reno’s Northwest Specialty Hospital evacuated patients as a precaution, with officials stating patients have been safely transported to appropriate locations to continue care.
Fire officials described the Hawk Fire as wind-driven, noting that such fires can move very rapidly into residential areas, posing significant challenges to containment efforts.
About 400 personnel were assigned to the Hawk Fire, indicating substantial frontline response efforts.
Southbound U.S. 395 traffic at Bordertown was being turned around before White Lake, illustrating specific temporary traffic management to facilitate evacuation and firefighting efforts.
The Hawk Fire outside Reno, Nevada has grown to approximately 10,000 to 10,500 acres and remains uncontained as strong winds drive rapid spread News Source. About 14,000 residents have been evacuated from the Reno area, with Governor Joe Lombardo declaring a state of emergency for Washoe County to unlock state resources and support News Source.
Wind-Driven Fire Spreads Into Residential Areas
Fire officials describe the Hawk Fire as wind-driven, capable of moving very rapidly into neighborhoods and posing major challenges to containment News Source. The fire has forced evacuations from the Somersett community, areas north of Somersett Parkway to Robb Drive, and neighborhoods north of West 7th Street toward North McCarran Boulevard News Source. About 400 personnel are assigned to the Hawk Fire, representing a substantial frontline response effort.
Major Road Closures Reroute Thousands
U.S. 395 northbound is closed from Parr Boulevard to Red Rock Road, blocking direct exits from the Reno area News Source. Southbound closures extend beyond Red Rock, with all off-ramps between Red Rock Road and Parr Boulevard closed to southbound traffic News Source. At Bordertown, southbound U.S. 395 traffic is being turned around before White Lake to manage evacuation flow and support firefighting operations.
Hospitals Evacuate Patients as Precaution
Reno's Northwest Specialty Hospital evacuated patients as a precaution, with officials confirming that patients have been safely transported to appropriate locations to continue receiving care News Source. The evacuations reflect the fire's proximity to critical facilities and the need to protect vulnerable populations during the rapid spread.
Residents Urged to Monitor Real-Time Updates
Officials are advising residents to monitor PerimeterMap and Nevada 511 for the latest evacuation zones, road closures, and safety updates News Source. Residents should avoid affected corridors entirely and rely only on official channels for evacuation information, as the situation continues to evolve rapidly News Source. Responders remain actively engaged in protecting lives and property across the fire zone.
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