Hawk Fire: Nevada wildfire destroys 32 homes, leaves 7 injured including first responders
Crews are starting to gain control over a Nevada wildfire that destroyed 32 homes and left seven people injured, but officials say there is still work to be done before they can safely let more people back home.
The Hawk Fire started around 11:20 a.m. Saturday, northwest of Reno, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
At least seven people, including three first responders, have been injured. Officials said 32 homes have been destroyed, but other businesses and residential structures have also been damaged in the fire. The number of structures destroyed is expected to increase as crews can better survey the burn area.
Some mandatory evacuations were downgraded, but around 23,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Around 40,000 people are under evacuation warnings. When asked why some people still can't return home if there are no active flames in their area, officials emphasized that it does not take much wind for an ember to spread and cause a flare-up.
As crews continue to battle flames, the Washoe County sheriff gave another reminder to residents not to fly their drones in the area of the fire. When civilian drones are up, it prevents first responders from flying their own aircraft that are required to help suppress flames.
Hawk Fire acreage, evacuations
As of 9:59 p.m. Sunday, the fire has burned at least 15,051 acres as 720 personnel try to combat the flames.
Highway 395 in Washoe County, Nevada, is closed in both directions from Parr Boulevard to Red Rock Road due to the fire, according to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office.
The Hawk Fire is burning northeast of Verdi. Sierra County Sheriff's Office has issued evacuation warnings for zones E024 and E061, which include the Verdi and Long Valley areas of eastern Sierra County.
Sierra County Evacuation Warnings
See the evacuation map in California.
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See evacuation orders for Nevada below.
This content is imported from infogram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Under an evacuation warning, you should be prepared to leave your home if necessary.
At 12:25 p.m. Monday, the Reno Police Department said evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings in the Somersett area, including all neighborhoods around Robb Drive. Officials also lifted road closures in that area.
The Reno-Sparks Convention Center at 4590 South Virginia Street is available as a shelter, the Forest Service said. Evacuees can access the center from Kietzke Lane and enter through Door 20F on the Kietzke side.
Small animals can be taken to the Washoe County Regional Animal Services at 2825 Longley Lane, while larger animals can be taken to the Ironwood Event Center at 5600 Whiskey Springs Road.
Hawk Fire power outages
Due to the fire, the Truckee Donner Public Utility District said it triggered emergency de-energization outages that impacted more than 14,000 customers on Saturday.
"NV Energy enacted an emergency de-energization of the transmission line that feeds our system due to its proximity to the Hawk Fire near Verdi," Truckee Donner Public Utility District said on Facebook.
The public utility district updated its post just before midnight on Saturday to report power had been restored to all customers.
Hawk Fire conditions, cause and mutual aid
Several strike teams from California have been deployed to help fight the Hawk Fire.
Crews from at least 15 states are assisting in combating the fire, and firefighters from both New Zealand and Australia were also deployed.
Reno Fire Chief David Cochran said it's believed the fire is human-caused but that there's no indication the fire was set intentionally.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency and has activated the state's National Guard to assist with the fire.
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