Hawk Fire in Nevada Prompts Emergency Declaration

A fast-growing brush fire in northwestern Nevada forced thousands of residents from their homes Saturday, prompting Governor Joe Lombardo to declare a state of emergency in Washoe County. The Hawk Fire, which started around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday near the Cold Creek Trail north of Somersett, ballooned to more than 10,500 acres by Saturday night with no containment reported, according to state fire officials.

The blaze was driven by gusty winds, low humidity, and dry brush, creating what officials described as a dynamic and rapidly evolving situation. Richard Edwards, chief of Truckee Meadows Fire Rescue in Washoe County, said the wind-driven fire moved very rapidly into residential areas, creating significant challenges for firefighters trying to save homes and protect lives. The National Weather Service had issued a red flag warning for the Reno area on Saturday, predicting wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour and humidity as low as 12 percent, conditions that offered rapid fire growth potential.

Evacuation orders expanded throughout the day and into the night. By Saturday evening, "go now" orders were in effect for areas north and northwest of Somersett, north of Verdi, the west...