Firefighters made significant progress on Monday against the Hawk Fire near Reno, Nevada, pushing containment to 27% after the blaze burned more than 15,000 acres and destroyed 32 homes. Pete Briant said the threat had diminished significantly, but the fire was still not out of the woods.
That progress mattered because the fire had started only on Saturday and had already sent 23,000 people under evacuation orders and another 40,000 under evacuation warnings by 2 p.m. local time Monday. Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency on Saturday as the fast-moving blaze spread through rugged terrain, with strong winds, high temperatures and extremely dry brush helping it grow quickly.
By Monday, the fire response had become a major operation, with more than 700 personnel working the line, backed by 14 fire crews, 95 engines and 10 helicopters. Authorities also said nearly all schools in Washoe County were closed and the Washoe County Sheriff's Department had ordered dozens of road closures, including a partial shutdown of a major highway north of the city.
The danger had eased along the southern perimeter, where firefighters eliminated the threat to communities and some evacuated residents were allowed to return home. But the northern edge still posed a risk, and officials said the blaze could keep moving to the northeast and northwest, with neighborhoods north of Highway 395 still in the path of possible spread.
That is why Monday's containment figure, while encouraging, was only a first turn of the wheel. Seven injuries had been reported, including four civilians and three fire personnel, but there were no reports of serious injuries or deaths, and authorities said the fire was caused by humans. Even so, the unanswered question is how many structures in all were lost as crews kept working to hold the line for at least the next 48 hours.
