Nevada wildfire partially contained as Reno evacuation orders ease
Firefighters have contained 27% of the Hawkeye Fire near Reno, but tens of thousands remain under evacuation orders as 32 homes are destroyed.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Firefighters have made significant progress against the Hawkeye Fire near Reno, Nevada, but the blaze is far from under control. As of the latest reports, the fire is 27% contained, with more than 15,000 acres burned and at least 32 homes destroyed. The number of people under evacuation orders has dropped from a peak of 90,000 to around 63,000, though some residents have been allowed back to their properties and told to remain ready to leave again.
The fire started on Saturday near the Hawk Meadow Trail in Washoe County. Officials say it was human-caused, though the exact cause is still under investigation. It spread with extraordinary speed, driven by strong winds and extremely dry conditions, moving from a small brush fire to a major blaze within hours. By Sunday morning, it had covered more than 10,000 acres, and it has since grown to over 15,000 acres.
A state of emergency was declared, and the Nevada National Guard was deployed to support around 800 firefighters. Helicopters and aircraft have been dropping water and fire retardant, while crews work to reinforce containment lines. Six people have been injured, including three first responders, though later reports put the number at seven.
The impact on the community has been severe. Tens of thousands of residents fled with little notice, many grabbing only essentials. Evacuation centres have been set up, with the Red Cross sheltering hundreds of people. Schools have been closed, and many roads remain cut off. Some residents have posted videos of flames close to major highways, and the fire has destroyed homes and other structures.
Officials warn that the fire is still unpredictable. Strong winds could push it towards more populated areas, and the hills remain critically dry. The fire is one of several burning across the western United States, and experts say climate change is making such conditions more common. For now, the priority remains protecting lives and property, and residents are urged to stay alert and follow evacuation orders.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | Channel 4 | ITV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42,000 people were under mandatory evacuation orders. | · | ||||
| Six people were injured, including three first responders. | · | ||||
| The fire was reported as human caused. | · | ||||
| A state of emergency was declared. | · | · | |||
| The fire was reported as 0-27% contained. | · | · | |||
| The Hawkeye Fire ignited on Saturday and grew to cover more than 10,000 acres by Sunday morning. | · | · | |||
| About 90,000 people were ordered to evacuate due to the wildfire. | · | · | · | ||
| The fire was not contained. | · | · | · | ||
| The Red Cross shelter housed over 450 evacuees, and 300 more slept in cars outside. | · | · | · | · | |
| Wind gusts exceeded 40 miles per hour during the peak of the fire. | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News focused on the human impact of the fire, with interviews with Red Cross volunteers and evacuees, and later provided updates on containment progress. It also included analysis of the role of climate change in making wildfires more frequent and severe.
- “It was extremely confusing last night. But what we said, and I want to reiterate a lot of heroism from our citizens, our first responders”
- “We have many services we offer through the American Red Cross at our shelters.”
- “We've moved up to 27% containment.”
ITV News emphasised the speed and danger of the fire, with dramatic footage and interviews with residents who fled. It highlighted the scale of the evacuation and the deployment of the National Guard.
- “It was pretty tough. It was horrible. Trying to get up here, trying to go to the house, you know, just trying to get stuff for me and the kids.”
- “Oh, my gosh, I'm still scared to death.”
- “Officials say this fire was caused by humans.”
5 News focused on the scale of the fire, comparing the burned area to the size of Manchester, and detailed the evacuation numbers. It also showed the arrival of emergency responders.
- “A wall of fire tearing up everything in its path.”
- “Around 42,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders while another 45,000 have been told to get ready to leave.”
- “There are hundreds, as you heard, 800 fire personnel on this fire.”
BBC One West provided a detailed report on the fire's impact and later updates on containment, including the number of homes destroyed and the reduction in evacuation orders. It also highlighted the ongoing danger from unpredictable winds.
- “Walls of flame racing across the hills towards family homes.”
- “Firefighters have gained ground, but almost three quarters of the perimeter remains uncontained.”
- “Some residents have now been allowed back to their properties, but they must remain ready to leave again if conditions change.”
Channel 4 News focused on the fire's rapid growth and the red flag conditions, and included context on climate change and the increasing frequency of large wildfires. It noted that the fire was 0% contained at the time of reporting.
- “Red sky over Nevada, where firefighters are calling these red flag conditions.”
- “The official descriptor remains this fire is 0% contained.”
- “It's moving quickly and unpredictably with the temperatures and winds persisting through the night.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.