Reno Fire 27% Contained, 32 Homes Destroyed

Crews battling the Hawk Fire northwest of Reno reported their first clear gain Monday. Containment reached 27% and the fire showed no new growth, authorities said at an afternoon news briefing, according to an Associated Press report carried by WKBN.

Officials also put a confirmed number on the damage for the first time. Chris Buckley, a U.S. Forest Service public information officer, told The Center Square that as of Monday afternoon the fire had destroyed 32 homes and damaged six others, and that the fire was 27% contained. Reno station 2 News Nevada, citing Monday's live fire briefing, reported the same count — 32 homes destroyed and six damaged, mostly in the North Valleys area. The AP report said the fire has destroyed more than 30 homes. Until Monday, officials had not confirmed how many homes were lost.

The fire held its footprint

The AP reported the fire has held steady at about 23 square miles since it burned out of control on Sunday. The Center Square and The New York Times both put the burned area at just over 15,000 acres.

SFGate reported that calmer winds gave firefighters a much-needed opportunity to hold back the flames, and that some evacuees have returned home. The Center Square reported that some evacuation orders west of Reno have been lifted, after an initial evacuation of about 90,000 residents.

Ground and air crews are focused on strengthening perimeter containment lines and putting out hot spots, according to The Center Square, which reported that crews still face hot, dry weather with no significant rainfall forecast for the Reno area this week. No deaths have been reported, Buckley said, though six to seven injuries have been confirmed. Portions of U.S. 395 between Reno and the California state line remain closed.