RENO, NV – Crews have made significant progress in containing the Hawk Fire burning in northwestern Nevada, officials said in an Aug. 26 update.
The fire began on Aug. 22 and forced thousands of evacuations in Reno, burning more than 15,000 acres as of Aug. 26. Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said at an Aug. 25 news conference that the cause of the fire remains under active investigation, but authorities determined it was human-caused. No suspect has been identified, he said.
The Washoe County Sheriff's Office said in an Aug. 26 Facebook post that people living in the areas covered under the highest evacuation order can return home and that all road closures connected to the fire had been lifted.
Here's what you need to know about the Hawk Fire.
Latest on size, containment
The Hawk Fire has burned 15,085 acres as of the morning of Aug. 26, according to an update by the National Interagency Fire Center. Crews achieved 85% containment on the evening of Aug. 25, with crews conducting mop-up operations and strengthening the fire line, the update said.
As of an Aug. 26 news conference, 47 homes and one commercial property had been reported burned.
Dry and breezy conditions were forecast for Aug. 26, with AccuWeather predicting a high of 93 degrees Fahrenheit and wind gusts of up to 25 mph. The Fire Center said in its update that those conditions could be problematic for firefighters.
"These warmer, drier and breezier conditions may increase fire behavior, particularly if fire escapes existing containment lines or if a new fire starts," the update reads.
What started the Hawk Fire?
Balaam said at the Aug. 25 news conference that the department is "actively working and using all the tools that we have to our advantage" to identify a suspect. He noted that multiple videos were taken around the time the fire started.
"There was no lightning strike. There was nothing else that could have caused this fire," Baalam said when asked how authorities knew the fire was human-caused.
About 85% of wildfires in the United States are caused by people, either intentionally or by accident, according to the National Park Service.
Where is the Hawk Fire?
The Hawk Fire is burning northwest of Reno, near the California-Nevada border.
Is Burning Man still happening?
Burning Man organizers confirmed to USA TODAY Network reporters that the event will proceed as scheduled from Aug. 30 through Sept. 7 despite the Hawk Fire burning northwest of Reno. The Reno-Tahoe International Airport anticipates as many as 20,000 passengers a day during Burning Man.
Burning Man organizers urged attendees to plan travel through Northern Nevada carefully and be mindful of communities impacted by the fire.
People traveling to Burning Man should also exercise caution for other weather events as well. Rain is expected on Friday, Aug. 28.
USA TODAY Trending reporter James Powel reported from Las Vegas.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hawk Fire nears full containment ahead of Burning Man. See map
