Ongoing Closures and District Status
The Washoe County School District (WCSD) has announced that 13 schools will remain closed on Wednesday, August 26, as the region continues to manage the impact of the active Hawk Fire. The decision follows a series of widespread closures earlier in the week that affected nearly the entire district, save for the remote Gerlach K-12 School.
According to the district, the schools remaining closed are those located in areas most directly impacted by the fire, where infrastructure and safety concerns persist. The list of closed facilities includes North Valleys High School, McQueen High School, Cold Springs Middle School, O’Brien Middle School, Billinghurst Middle School, and several elementary schools, including Silver Lake, Stead, Alice Smith, Lemmon Valley, Inskeep, Gomes, Desert Heights, and Melton.
While these 13 locations remain shuttered, the district confirmed that all other WCSD schools will be open on Wednesday as scheduled. However, officials noted that bus transportation services will remain suspended in areas designated as red or yellow evacuation zones to ensure the safety of students and staff and to keep roadways accessible for emergency responders.
Context and Regional Impact
The Hawk Fire has necessitated a massive emergency response, leading Governor Joe Lombardo to declare a state of emergency for Washoe County. The state of emergency was triggered by a combination of rapidly moving fire conditions, unpredictable weather patterns, and significant power outages that have affected residents and district facilities alike.
Earlier this week, the district implemented a near-total closure to facilitate evacuations and clear the way for public safety vehicles. District officials emphasized that the decision to suspend classes was made after careful consultation with emergency management authorities. Thousands of students and staff members have been displaced by the ongoing fire activity, adding a layer of complexity to the resumption of normal school activities.
Community Resources and Operational Updates
Beyond the K-12 system, other educational institutions in the region have adjusted their operations. Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) reported plans to operate normally on Wednesday, following closures earlier in the week. Meanwhile, the University of Nevada, Reno, has maintained regular operations at its main, Redfield, and Lake Tahoe campuses throughout the crisis.
To support families affected by the closures, the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows has opened four clubhouses—Pennington, Donald W. Reynolds, Neil Road, and the Carano Youth Center—to provide a safe environment for children from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. These facilities remain open to both existing members and non-members, provided that families complete a membership packet at the time of drop-off.
District officials continue to urge families to monitor official communication channels for further updates as they evaluate safety conditions daily. Information regarding local shelters and emergency resources remains available through the official Washoe County emergency portal.