Overview
- The wildfire began northwest of Reno on Aug. 22 and exploded under high winds and very dry fuels, consuming roughly 15,000 acres.
- Firefighters have increased containment to about 27 percent, which officials say has stopped the fire’s forward progress in key areas and allowed some evacuation zones to be reduced.
- Authorities say the blaze was human-caused and the origin remains under active investigation as crews continue damage surveys.
- The fire has destroyed dozens of homes, injured multiple people including three first responders, forced tens of thousands to evacuate at its peak, and cleared about 9,000 people to return to areas east of U.S. 395.
- State and local officials declared a state of emergency, deployed specialized teams and shelters, and warned travelers — including Burning Man attendees — to expect travel disruptions and possible smoke impacts as regional wildfire risk stays high.