August 24, 20262 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmA wildfire outside Reno began on August 22 and has already burned over 15,000 acres of landBy Adam Kovac edited by Claire CameronA firefighting aircraft drops fire retardant during the Hawk Fire on August 23, 2026 in Reno, Nevada. The wildfire spread from the Sierra foothills towards Reno, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes. Officials said the fire was human-caused. Photo by Trevor Bexon/Getty ImagesA raging wildfire near Reno, Nevada has forced tens of thousands of people from their homes and could be set to spread even further in the coming days thanks to breezy winds and dry vegetation fueling the burn.The National Interagency Fire Center, a federal organization that tracks wildfires in the U.S., classified the fires as “extreme.” The Reno Gazette Journal reported around 90,000 residents have been issued mandatory evacuation orders, and at least six people have been injured, including three first responders.The fire began on August 22 and was caused by humans, according to local officials, although it's unclear what sparked the fire or whether it had been set intentionally. The fire spans more than 15,000 acres in the Reno area, according to Inciweb, a national wildfire data tracker, and has not been contained at all.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Another, separate fire north of the city that started earlier last week has been almost completely contained; it burned almost 94,000 acres of land.The area has been hit by winds that can gust up to 35 miles per hour over the past few days, meaning sparks have been able to spread. Fairly low relative humidity of 20 percent to 25 percent also means the conditions are extremely dry, further driving the fire—although these conditions are "pretty typical" for this time of year in the region, says National Weather Service meteorologist Tony Fuentes.Local officials on social media said the fire is expect to “continue making moderate- to high-intensity runs in pockets of dense fuels” over the next 12 hours.“Hot, dry and breezy conditions are expected to continue supporting active fire behavior over the next 48 hours,” the officials said. “The fire has the potential to spread northeast and northwest, and conditions remain dynamic and subject to rapid change.”As of August 24, the U.S. has seen almost 51,000 wildfires that have burned over 7.8 million acres this year alone, according to the NIFC. That is 129 percent of the ten-year average number of wildfires and 168 percent for acres burned. For comparison, from January 1 to August 24 last year, there were 45,331 fires and 4,065,073 acres burned.Among the worst of the wildfires this year was a blaze in Washington that destroyed over 450,000 acres. Scientists said it was a warning sign for the rest of the U.S. as the effects of climate change accelerate, making wildfires more frequent, longer lasting and more destructive.It’s Time to Stand Up for ScienceIf you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.