Hawk Fire Situation Report

August 24, 2026  /  TLP:CLEAR 

Healthcare Ready is MONITORING for this event. We are monitoring potential concerns for supply chain disruptions and impacts on healthcare services on our Alert Hub. This situation is evolving rapidly, and Healthcare Ready will provide major updates as needed. 

Contents

• Situation Overview
• Impacts to Healthcare
• Impacts to Supply Chain

Situation Overview

• The Hawk Fire, near Washoe County, has burned over 15,000 acres in Nevada. The wildfire is currently northwest of Reno and firefighters are working to keep the fire away from critical infrastructure, populated areas, and US Highway 395. Hot, dry, and breezy conditions are expected over the next 48 hours, which could fuel the spread of wildfire. The Hawk Fire is currently at 0% containment.
• On August 22, Governor Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County due to the Hawk Fire.
• Healthcare Ready will activate and update Rx Open tomorrow at 2pm EST.

Impacts to Healthcare

• There are approximately 90,000 residents within the mandatory and voluntary evacuation zones.
  • An evacuation shelter is open in Reno, Nevada at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
• As of August 23, NV Energy is monitoring the Hawk Fire and shutting off power lines in the affected areas to allow for first responders to work safely.
• The HHS emPOWER map, which displays the total number of Medicare beneficiaries that rely on electricity-dependent durable medical equipment (DME), shows that Washoe County has the second highest rate of beneficiaries in the state. Individuals who rely on these electricity-dependent DMEs are at risk with prolonged power outages.
• Two Northern Nevada Health System facilities were forced to close and evacuate patients due to the Hawk Fire.
  • Northwest Specialty Hospital began evacuating patients as a precautionary measure. They plan to resume operations once the building has been deemed safe for return.
  • The Emergency Room at North Valleys, part of Northern Nevada Medical Center, closed and evacuated its patients.
• As of August 24, TRICARE beneficiaries can get an emergency prescription refill if they have been affected by the Hawk Fire in Washoe County. The emergency prescription refill is in effect through September 3.

Impacts to Supply Chain

• To find up-to-date information on road conditions and closures, use Nevada 511.
  • As of August 23, US 395 is closed in both directions from Parr Boulevard to Red Rock Road.
• The biggest risk is road closures that might impede or delay medical services or evacuated individuals who are seeking medical care away from their normal facilities.

FOLLOW US

Sign up to receive event-specific emails for your state or states where your organization operates

Contact us alerts@healthcareready.org

 For media inquiries  Alexis Wing awing@healthcareready.org

For almost two decades, Healthcare Ready is a trusted nonprofit that serves as a public-private nexus to prevent patient care disruptions amid crises. Through trusted tools, timely information, and cross-sector collaboration, Healthcare Ready helps communities, healthcare partners, and response organizations stay connected when emergencies disrupt normal systems of care.

This alert highlights recent updates, research, response efforts, and resources that support healthcare readiness and resilience. Additional information and tools can be found on our website: healthcareready.org

Healthcare Ready is a proud member of Fedcap.

Healthcare Ready is approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (C)(3) tax-exempt organization, and all donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Healthcare Ready's Federal Identification Number (EIN) is 46-3134601.