Updated

Updated · CNN · Aug 23

Reno's Hawk Fire Reaches 27% Containment as 87,000 Evacuation Alerts Ease Despite 40-mph Winds

Updated

Updated · CNN · Aug 23

Reno's Hawk Fire Reaches 27% Containment as 87,000 Evacuation Alerts Ease Despite 40-mph Winds

Q: With the devastating Hawk Fire confirmed as human-caused, what clues are investigators missing to determine if it was a deliberate act?

Investigators have not yet identified the specific ignition source or found evidence that clearly shows intent. Officials say they know the Hawk Fire was human-caused because there were no natural ignition sources, such as lightning, in the area when it began. What remains missing is the proof needed to distinguish an accident from a deliberate act. That means investigators are still looking for origin-and-cause evidence from the fire’s starting point: physical traces of how the fire was ignited, witness accounts, video or photo evidence, and any link to a person, vehicle, device or activity in the area at the time. In wildfire cases, that can include signs of equipment use, a campfire, smoking materials, fireworks, vehicle sparks, power-related problems, or an incendiary device. Without that evidence, authorities cannot say whether the fire was accidental or arson. The speed and intensity of the blaze may also complicate the inquiry. Winds above 40 mph drove the fire rapidly through dry grass and brush, and officials have said unsafe conditions limited damage assessment in some areas. Fast-moving fire can destroy or obscure crucial clues at the point of origin. So far, the public record shows only a preliminary finding: the fire was started by human activity, but investigators have not released details identifying the exact cause, the responsible person, or any forensic evidence proving deliberate ignition.

3 articles · Updated · CNN · Aug 23

27% containment on Monday let officials downgrade some evacuation orders around Reno, including in Somersett, after crews held lines on the 15,000-acre Hawk Fire.
40-mph wind gusts helped the human-caused blaze race nearly 6 miles in under 24 hours, and officials warned breezy conditions could still drive moderate- to high-intensity runs into Wednesday.
23,000 people remain under "evacuate now" orders and about 40,000 are still on standby; 32 homes were destroyed, six damaged and seven people injured, including three first responders.
US 395 reopened Monday evening after a daytime closure, but roughly 7,000 utility customers remained without power and two medical centers had evacuated patients.
The fire, burning near the Nevada-California line, prompted Nevada's emergency declaration and National Guard activation, while Burning Man organizers said the festival starting Aug. 30 is not currently expected to change.