Hawk Fire: U-Haul Offers Disaster Relief to Reno Area Evacuees
Four U-Haul facilities in the Reno area are offering 30 days of free self-storage and container use to residents affected by the Hawk Fire, a human-caused wildfire that has burned more than 15,000 acres northwest of Reno and remains completely uncontained as of Monday.
The fire has destroyed 32 homes and damaged six others as of Monday afternoon, with damage assessments ongoing and numbers expected to rise. At least 42,000 residents have been evacuated, though some areas along Interstate 80 have been cleared for return while other families remain displaced or on standby for potential evacuation.
Chris Berget, president of U-Haul Co. of Northern Nevada, said his team is prepared to help anyone impacted by the wildfire who needs secure storage at no cost for one month. The offer applies to new rentals based on availability at participating locations in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and South Lake Tahoe.
Part of Broader Regional Crisis
The Hawk Fire is the third major wildfire to strike northern Nevada in recent weeks. The Bug Fire, which ignited August 8 just north of the current blaze, burned nearly 94,000 acres and is now around 94% contained. The Stallion Fire, which started two days later, is 98% contained after claiming just over 40,000 acres.
The evacuations have displaced a substantial portion of Washoe County's population. With approximately 500,000 residents in the county, the evacuation orders and warnings affect roughly one-fifth of the total population.
Emergency Response Mobilized
Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and activated the Nevada National Guard to support firefighting efforts. The National Guard deployment includes two helicopter crews for aerial firefighting and 60 troops to help police safeguard evacuated neighborhoods.
Approximately 800 emergency responders are battling the blaze. The fire has also impacted critical infrastructure, with at least two medical centers evacuating patients, including Northwest Specialty Hospital, which relocated its rehabilitation and behavioral health patients.
Nevada's wildfire season typically runs from May to October when vegetation is driest. All areas of the state are currently reported to be at least abnormally dry in 2026, contributing to dangerous fire conditions.
Historic Wildfire Year
The Hawk Fire occurs amid an extreme wildfire season across the United States. More than 7.7 million acres have burned nationwide in 2026 so far—the largest year-to-date area in a decade. Firefighters are currently working to contain 79 large fires across 18 states.
U-Haul's Disaster Relief Program
The storage assistance is part of U-Haul's established disaster relief initiative. From March 2024 through January 2025, the program was offered at 725 Company centers for 32 separate relief efforts, serving 29,665 customers with free storage services. During that period, 71% of recipients were families affected by hurricanes.
Residents seeking storage assistance can contact participating U-Haul locations in Reno at Double Diamond and Spanish Springs, Carson City, or South Lake Tahoe. The 30-day free offer is available for on-site storage, with delivery available for a modest fee. For customers needing storage beyond the free period, U-Haul offers a 1-Year Price Lock guarantee with no administrative fees or deposits.
U-Haul operates as an official American Red Cross Disaster Responder, positioning the company to provide rapid assistance to communities facing natural disasters.
