UPDATE 2:15PM: Firefighters have made critical progress on the Hawk Fire, reaching 27 percent containment Monday. The fire is 15,066 acres and holding, officials said.

More than 800 firefighters from local, state, regional, national and international agencies continue to battle the Hawk Fire northwest of Reno.

As of this writing, officials said 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.

Tuesday Afternoon Summary

Great Basin Incident Management Team 6 arrived and assumed management of the incident from the initial response team. Firefighters continued to make progress, increasing containment of the fire to 27 percent. The Hawk Fire has significantly affected homes and community structures, and extensive work remains as damage assessment teams continue accessing impacted areas. The number of confirmed destroyed or damaged structures may rise as assessments progress.

On the first day, the fire exhibited extreme behavior, moving approximately four miles in three hours and covering a total distance of six miles, contributing to the breadth of impacts now being evaluated. Critical infrastructure, including a threatened railway line and a communication tower, has also been affected.

A full suppression strategy is being implemented to reduce or eliminate risk to communities, infrastructure, recreation sites, and natural and cultural resources. Incident strategies and tactics prioritize actions with the highest probability of success while minimizing risk to firefighters and the public. Although current suppression efforts and control features are limiting projected fire movement, forecasted winds and gusts over the next few days are expected to challenge containment lines.

Fire Outlook and Weather

A low probability of thunderstorms and outflow winds are possible for the next few days. Continued critically dry fuels persist in the area with the possibility of continued elevated temps and seasonal afternoon southwest to west winds.
Evacuations and Closures: Some area, road and trail closures remain in effect, including areas southbound off U.S. Highway 395 and a Forest area closure. Travelers and residents should check current road and evacuation information before entering the affected area. Authorities are asking the public to remain vigilant and be safe as fire suppression efforts continue in the area. The most current information and updates for evacuations and closures for the Hawk Fire can be found at Perimeter Map. Residents in affected areas should continue to follow evacuation information and direction from local authorities.

Safety

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are in place, please remember if you fly drones during a fire, we can’t safely operate air support which hinder suppression efforts and emergency response, this puts the crews and public at risk. “If you fly, we can’t!” If you or a loved one is sensitive to smoke, stay indoors when possible until air quality improves. Monitor current air quality through the AirNow.gov.

For the latest updates on the fire and where evacuations stand, see Watch Duty here.

The Washoe County Assessor’s Office is actively reviewing property damage from the Hawk Fire and recent fires to ensure property records and assessed values accurately reflect the impact. Staff are evaluating reported damage and reviewing affected properties individually to determine whether updates or corrections are needed.

US-395 Now Open

US-395 is now open to both northbound and southbound traffic. On-ramps and off-ramps are reopening, with the exception of access to North Virginia Street, which remains closed from Panther Drive to Village Parkway.

Evacuations on the east side of US-395 are also being downgraded from red “Evacuate Now” status to yellow “Get Set to Evacuate” in the following areas:

White Lake

Granite Hills

Granite Peak

North Valleys Regional Park

Alice Smith Elementary School area

There remain several neighborhoods on the east side of US 395 that will remain under the “Red – Evacuate now” closure. This includes neighborhoods near Sierra Sage Golf course, Silver Lake Rd. and Moya Blvd.

See the Perimetermap.com for the exact zones that are being downgraded.

Fire behavior remains a dynamic situation, and conditions can change quickly. Residents in areas downgraded to yellow “Get Set to Evacuate” should remain vigilant, be prepared to evacuate if conditions change, and continue to closely monitor official updates.

As residents return to their homes, fire official urge people to use caution and remain aware that firefighters, law enforcement and other emergency personnel may continue working throughout the area.

For information about what to know before returning home, visit:

What to know before returning home after an evacuation

Washoe County Schools

All classes, events, and activities at all WCSD schools – except Incline and Gerlach K-12 schools have been canceled Tuesday.

In the interest of safety for students, staff, and families, the District exercises great care and consideration before making the decision to cancel classes. Thousands of students and staff have been evacuated, and many neighborhoods and District facilities are still experiencing prolonged power outages, school officials said.

WCSD’s public safety personnel continue to assist our regional law enforcement partners, and transportation resources have been repositioned to minimize further negative impacts on our schools and the community.