UPDATE 4:18PM: 32 homes have been destroyed, 6 have been damaged and the number of may increase in the coming days as fire officials continue their survey of the Hawk Fire area, according to Eastern Sierra Fire and Ice, an affiliate of Watch Duty. Also there have been 7 people injured, 3 firefighters and 4 civilians.
Meanwhile, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office advises that evacuations in the Somersett area have been downgraded from red “Evacuate Now” status to yellow “Get Set to Evacuate” including all neighborhoods off Robb Drive. The previous “Get Set to Evacuate” (Warnings) have been lifted in this area. Additionally, the road closures previously in place surrounding these communities have been lifted.
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More than 700 firefighters from local, state, regional, national and international agencies continue to battle the Hawk Fire northwest of Reno, hoping to build on progress made overnight and into Monday morning around the 15,051 acre fire in which there is no containment at this time.
The FEMA Region 9 Regional Administrator announced Monday it has authorized the use of federal funds to assist in combating the Hawk Fire after the state of Nevada reached out for a fire management assistance grant request.
The grant will provide federal funding for up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs, including expenses for field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies and mobilization and demobilization activities attributed to fighting the fire.
At least 700 firefighters have been assigned from across the region from Carson City, Lake Tahoe, Lyon, Douglas and Storey counties, joining a unified command from Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, Reno Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service in battling the fire, along with air tanker and helicopter support from CalFire and Nevada National Guard. There is also, reportedly, international help, with firefighters from Australia and New Zealand joining the battle.
There’s no official word yet on structures damaged or lost. The fire is human caused and under investigation.
Hawk Fire Monday Morning
Firefighters made progress holding the Hawk Fire despite the extreme fire behavior observed during the incident. Crews are working to keep the fire east of Dog Valley Road and south of U.S. Highway 395, according to the latest Watch Duty report.
On portions of the fire, crews are using handline and direct attack where conditions allow. Fire behavior was less extreme than anticipated in some areas, allowing crews to hold established lines and reposition resources to reinforce suppression efforts. Crews also successfully held line through areas of heavy timber, supported by extensive retardant use.
On the west side of the fire, firefighters are working to keep the fire out of Dog Valley and in flatter terrain. Near the Somersett side of the fire, crews constructed handline with support from helicopters. Firefighters are also working around a natural gas line within the fire area, according to Watch Duty. Mountainous terrain, continuous fuels and critically dry conditions continue to challenge suppression efforts.
Fire Outlook and Weather
The fire is expected to continue making moderate- to high-intensity runs Monday morning and afternoon in pockets of dense fuels. Over the next 24 hours, backing fire with periods of running fire behavior is possible where fuels, wind and topography align, according to Watch Duty.
Hot, dry and breezy conditions are expected to continue supporting active fire behavior over the next 48 hours. Daytime highs will be in the upper 80s to low 90s, with southwest afternoon winds 15 to 25 mph. The fire has the potential to spread northeast and northwest, and conditions remain dynamic and subject to rapid change.
Critically dry fuels persist across the fire area. Elevated temperatures and seasonal afternoon southwest winds are expected to continue influencing fire behavior, Watch Duty forecasters note.
Evacuations and Closures
Evacuations remain in effect. Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and fire managers are in continuous coordination to determine when residents can safely return to their homes. Damage assessment teams are also working in impacted areas to evaluate conditions.
Go here for the latest evacuation maps. There’s no official word yet on structures damaged or lost. U.S. 395 remained closed in both directions from Parr Boulevard to Red Rock Road as of Monday morning.
There is not currently a specific timeline for when evacuation areas will reopen. Reentry decisions are based on conditions within the fire area and the ability to safely allow residents back into affected neighborhoods. Updates will be shared as soon as those decisions are made. Current evacuation information and maps are available here.
Additional Evacuation Resources
University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Living With Fire Program reminds those who may be affected to consult its online evacuation resources, including the Wildfire Evacuation Checklist, to get prepared now. The checklist is also available in Spanish.
Road Closures
Updated road closures and traffic restrictions on US 395 related to the Hawk Fire:
US 395 Traffic Information:
• Northbound US 395 is closed from Parr Boulevard to Red Rock Road.
• Southbound US 395 traffic at Bordertown is being turned around before reaching White Lake.
• Southbound US 395 remains open from Red Rock Road south into Reno.
Motorists are advised to monitor PerimeterMap.com for the most current evacuation information, road closures and changing conditions
Area, road and trail closures remain in effect, including a closure of U.S. Highway 395 and a Forest area closure. Roads will reopen as conditions allow. Travelers and residents should check current road and evacuation information before entering the affected area.
Community Meeting
A Hawk Fire Community Meeting will be held Monday evening, August 24, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the California Building, 75 Cowan Street in Reno.
Fire managers will provide an update on the incident and current suppression efforts. After the speakers finish, attendees will break into smaller group discussions, providing an opportunity to ask questions, share concerns and speak directly with incident personnel.
For those unable to attend in person, the meeting will be livestreamed on the Hawk Fire Facebook page. Public Information Officers will monitor and answer questions in the comments throughout the event.
How to Help
Want to help those impacted by the Hawk Fire? Go to:
Safety
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are in place over the fire area. Please remember that when drones are flown near a wildfire, firefighting aircraft may be forced to stop operating. This can hinder suppression efforts and put firefighters and the public at risk. Drone owners are reminded that “If you fly, we can’t!”
Those sensitive to smoke should stay indoors when possible until air quality improves. Current smoke and air-quality conditions can be monitored by going to airnow.gov here.
Continue to rely on official sources for current fire, evacuation and closure information as conditions can change rapidly.
We will update as information becomes available.
