Power has been shutoff in the area of the Hawk Fire. At one point, outages impacted more than 60,000 customers.
NV Energy says the outages are the result of an active wildfire.
Approximately 10,000 customers remain without power due to emergency de-energization measures. Customers currently affected are located in areas where evacuation orders or warnings are already in place due to wildfire activity. Gas service was shut-off for about 250 customers, also for safety.
The emergency de-energization was initiated on Saturday, August 22 after the wildfire posed a direct threat to electrical infrastructure. The action was taken as part of NV Energy's comprehensive wildfire mitigation strategy to help reduce the risk of additional wildfire ignitions and protect public safety. Yesterday, two of the facilities affected were critical high-voltage transmission lines. Because these lines serve a broad area, the de-energization resulted in regional impacts.
Areas closest to the fire will remain de-energized until NV Energy teams and fire agencies advise it is safe to restore power.
There is no estimate on when power could be restored.
NV Energy has released a statement:
"Due to impacts of the Hawk Fire, emergency de-energizations in northwest Reno and the North Valleys have been taken to protect residents and critical infrastructure as the fire approached utility equipment.
The emergency de-energizations are currently affecting up to approximately 60,000 customers. While disruptive, the measure is a critical component of NV Energy's wildfire mitigation strategy and is intended to reduce public safety risks during active wildfire events. Our teams are closely monitoring fire activity to determine when it is safe to restore power.
At this time, there is no estimated restoration time for affected customers. Crews are actively evaluating re-energization options and will restore power as soon as it is safe to do so.
NV Energy is proud to have one of the top power reliability rankings in the nation. However, safety is our number one priority. When an active wildfire meets an energized line, it can cause secondary ignitions that worsen the ongoing fire. This emergency de-energization is one way we protect our customers and communities.
We recognize the hardship outages create and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding as we prioritize safety."
The transmission line was re-energized overnight, restoring power to most customers.
— Liberty Utilities Lake Tahoe (@LibertyUtil_CA) August 23, 2026
The Hawk Fire is still active. Please be prepared for power outages. Tips can be found on our webpage: https://t.co/o0hXxAFp5L
Visit our website/outage center for current outage updates.
About 37,000 customers across the Truckee and North Lake Tahoe region were without power Saturday night after transmission lines were de-energized due to the Hawk Fire. People seemed to take it in stride at a bar in Truckee.
