The Hawk Fire started about 11:30 a.m. Saturday near Somersett in the foothills of northwest Reno and quickly grew to 30 to 40 acres. Evacuation orders followed for areas around Peavine Peak and north of neighborhoods along Somersett Parkway, Avenida de Landa and Las Brisas Boulevard.
Watch Duty said the fire more than doubled in size in less than 25 minutes. The fire started about 1 mile north of Cold Creek Trail, and its smoke was drifting east.
Peavine Peak and Somersett Parkway
Incident Command reported that structures were threatened as the fire spread. That left residents in the ordered evacuation areas with a fast-moving fire edge and limited time to move before conditions changed again.
The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning on Saturday for much of northwestern Nevada and several counties in northeastern California. The warning covered Washoe, Douglas and Storey counties, western Lyon County and Carson City in Nevada, along with Surprise Valley and eastern and southern Lassen County in California.
National Weather Service warning
Southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph were expected through 11 p.m. Saturday, with gusts up to 40 mph and humidity as low as 12%. The National Weather Service said, "The combination of gusty winds and low humidity can cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first responders can contain them."
Residents were advised to avoid outdoor activities that could cause a spark near dry vegetation, including yard work, target shooting or lighting campfires. For people near Somersett, the immediate concern was not the size alone, but how quickly the fire could keep moving under those wind and humidity conditions.
Hawk Fire near Somersett
The open question is what caused the Hawk Fire to start. Until that is known, the practical takeaway is simple: anyone in the evacuation area should stay ready to leave again if the fire shifts, because the wind and dry air gave it room to spread fast.
