The Hawk Fire Is Burning So Erratically Firefighters Can't Get Ahead of It
Approximately 42,000 residents have been forced to evacuate while another 45,000 people have been put on alert as a massive wildfire burns near Reno, Nevada. Here is the latest news on this rapidly developing situation as wildfire weather reaches critical levels of concern across the West.
Latest Update on Nevada's Hawk Fire
The Hawk Fire has forced thousands of residents to flee their homes. According to the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, the blaze has burned over 13,000 acres since it started on Saturday. Three civilians and three firefighters have been injured in the fire.
Winds gusting to 40 mph have fanned the flames as the fire quickly spreads through neighborhoods located to the northwest of Reno. Multiple structures have been destroyed by the fire as it exploded to cover an area of nearly 6 miles in less than 24 hours.
Reno Fire Department Chief David Cochran said that the prolonged period of erratic fire behavior has presented difficulties to the over 800 personnel on the scene. Cochran noted that it was unusual for the erratic conditions to fire up during the overnight and early morning hours, adding another layer of complexity to the challenges.
Wildfires in the desert terrain of Nevada generally die down overnight as temperatures fall and winds decrease, opening a window for crews to get ahead in the containment. However, this window has not presented itself with the Hawk Fire. The response includes ground crews and aircraft fighting around the clock to contain the fire. In addition to the firefighting crews, the Reno Police Department worked feverishly overnight to evacuate residents in the line of danger.
The Hawk Fire got its name from its start on the Hawk Meadow Trail, located roughly one mile north of the Cold Creek Trail in Somersett. Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Shane Akerson confirmed that investigators believe that the fire was human-caused; however, they have not determined how it started.
One of the most troublesome aspects of this fire is that it has moved into populated urban areas, putting thousands of homes, businesses, and infrastructure in danger. Local officials have said that several structures have been lost, but a complete damage assessment has not been conducted because crews are prioritizing the containment of the fire first.
State of Emergency Declared for Washoe County
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has declared a state of emergency for Washoe County. While the western U.S. is sitting at a Preparedness Level 5, the Hawk Fire is receiving the bulk of the resources across the Great Basin.
Washoe County School District cancelled all classes, events, and after-school activities on Monday. The closures were triggered due to the widespread evacuations and the need to keep roads and resources open for the response.
The fire has also cut electricity to over 11,000 customers in Nevada, with the majority of these coming in Washoe County. NV Energy confirmed it was working non-stop to restore power as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature is not dealing out any favors for crews working to contain the inferno. The Monday forecast near Reno is calling for temperatures in the low 90s and winds picking up during the afternoon hours. The breezy conditions are expected to persist through the week.
Local officials are also warning residents that air quality will continue to remain poor due to the pervasive smoke. Sensitive groups should take the appropriate care when spending time outside in the days to come.
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