Evacuation Chaos Amid Hawk Fire | Reno News

Reno News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 26, 2026 · 1m

When the Hawk Fire erupted, chaos hit evacuation routes as residents like Debbie Phillips and Paul Andrews battled gridlocked roads, blocked exits, and no clear guidance—forcing them to wait hours, sleep in cars, or crash into each other on the way out. Meanwhile, Ella Bornstein and Ty Strickland, racing from a red zone before traffic collapsed, ended up stranded in a grocery store parking lot as hotels charged sky-high prices. With power outages spoiling food and roads turning into scenes of mass hysteria, evacuees faced more than just fire—they faced a system overwhelmed by panic and poor…