Update:
Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District officials, at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 9, updated estimates of the fire’s impact area, downgrading it to 4,703 acres. Officials noted the fire held its line in most areas throughout the night.
Original Story:
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo on Sunday declared a state of emergency for Washoe County in response to the rapidly growing Davis Fire, which has forced evacuations of at least 14,000 residents in the area south of Reno.
According to Nevada fire officials, the wind-driven blaze has already scorched 6,500 acres and continues to burn with no containment, affecting numerous structures and leaving homes, businesses and traffic signals without power. At least 14 structures have been damaged or destroyed and damage assessment is ongoing.
The fire began near Davis Creek Regional Park in Washoe Valley and was first reported around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The evacuation perimeter expanded Sunday as high winds drove the fire west and uphill toward the Mt. Rose Highway. Fire officials said they were able to hold the eastern, northern and southern boundaries of the fire thanks to dozens of fire apparatus, eight aircraft—including air tankers, scoopers and helicopters—and more than 600 firefighters. 
Cancelations, closures and outages
By early Monday, emergency crews were still grappling with the situation, as freeway and street closures remained in place. Current closures and cancellations as of 7 a.m. Monday, Sept. 9 include:
- SR 431 Mt. Rose Highway closed from U.S. 395 to the Summit
- U.S. 395 Alternate closed from Bowers Interchange to Eastlake Boulevard.
- All Washoe County Schools, except Gerlach K-12, are closed on Monday, Sept. 9.
- All in-person classes and non-essential operations at the University of Nevada, Reno’s Redfield Campus on Wedge Parkway are canceled. Some classes may be held online.
Thousands of residents in south Reno remain without electricity as NV Energy shut off power to regions affected by the fire. Officials warn that customers in affected areas should prepare for prolonged outages. Those living near the fire who still have power are being advised that due to the unpredictable nature of the fire, their power could be shut off.
Personal stories of loss and survival
Local residents are grappling with the emotional toll of the fire, as homes and livelihoods are threatened. Reno resident Jim Smith, who lives in the Galena evacuation zone, expressed his frustration.
“The evacuations have been a major pain,” Smith said. “We’re fortunate to have family close by, but it has been very stressful not knowing what will happen.”
Tragically, some families have already lost everything. Hannah Hoobyar, a resident of Washoe Valley, described the heart-wrenching experience of watching her home succumb to the flames.
“I looked out my window and saw a big plume of smoke, and realized it was spreading fast,” she said. Hoobyar and her family evacuated around 3:30 p.m., but their home was destroyed shortly thereafter.
Hoobyar discovered the full extent of the loss through a social media post. “It took me a second to process it,” she recalled. “The first few seconds of the video showed our house with flames coming out of the kitchen and bedroom windows.” Shortly afterward, the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District confirmed the complete destruction of her home.
Local law enforcement and fire agencies have asked residents to stay away from south Reno and areas impacted by the fire to allow emergency personnel room to work. For more updates, residents are advised to monitor local news and official channels.
Residents can monitor fire activity and updates at:
- Watch Duty, online or using the mobile app: https://app.watchduty.org/i/33573
- AlertWildfire, wildfire cameras: https://www.alertwildfire.org/region/blmnv/?camera=Axis-CalaverasNV
- Twitter: https://x.com/TMFPD and https://x.com/HumboldtToiyabe
- Perimeter Map, updated evacuation zones: https://perimetermap.com/
