Hawk Fire Resources and Information

The division is operating as normal and no changes to regulatory or reporting requirements have been implemented.  The division offers the following reminders: 

Employers should continue to follow normal workplace safety and injury-reporting requirements. Employers are reminded that work-related fatalities must be reported to Nevada OSHA within 8 hours, and inpatient hospitalizations, amputations, or loss of an eye must be reported within 24 hours. Nevada OSHA can be reached at (775) 688-3700 in Northern Nevada. Additional information regarding workplace incident reporting is available through the Nevada OSHA Report an Accident or Fatality webpage. 

Employees who experience a work-related injury or illness should notify their employer and follow the normal workers’ compensation claim process. Information and resources for injured workers, employers, insurers, and medical providers are available through the Nevada Workers’ Compensation Section. WCS can also be reached at (775) 684-7270 in Northern Nevada.

FIRE-AFFECTED MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT

Before returning equipment to service, look for signs of fire, heat,                                            smoke or water damage.

LOOK FOR THESE WARNING SIGNS

EQUIPMENT COVERED BY MCS

·   Elevators and conveyances: Do not operate equipment if fire, smoke, heat or water may have affected electrical or safety components.

·   Stair chairs / lifts: MCS can inspect affected stair chairs and similar conveyance equipment, including equipment in private residences.

·   Boilers and pressure vessels: Do not power on or pressurize equipment that may have been damaged. Have questionable equipment evaluated before use.

Nevada OSHA & Safety Consultation and Training Section (SCATS)

Fire Recovery and Re-Entry

Purpose. Employers returning to fire-affected facilities should evaluate each work area and task before employee entry. A business may be able to reopen while burned storage areas, utility systems, debris fields, or other portions of the property remain unsafe. Employers must continue to comply with applicable Nevada OSHA/OSHA requirements during recovery and cleanup.

·   Occupancy / structural condition: Confirm the facility is legally cleared for occupancy by the appropriate local authority. Restrict access to burned or damaged storage areas, roofs, walls, shelving/racking, overhead materials, or other locations where structural integrity is uncertain. Use qualified professionals when needed.

·   Electrical and utilities: Treat fire-, heat-, smoke-, or water-damaged panels, wiring, cords, machinery, batteries, gas systems, and equipment as potentially unsafe until inspected. De-energize equipment where appropriate and follow electrical safe-work and lockout/tagout requirements during servicing or repair.

·   Hazard assessment: Evaluate ash and soot, sharp debris, broken glass, nails, unstable materials, damaged chemical containers, compressed-gas cylinders, batteries, asbestos/lead-containing materials, carbon monoxide, heat, noise, and vehicle/equipment movement before assigning work.

·   Damaged storage / cleanup areas: Do not send untrained employees into burned storage or debris areas simply because the main business has reopened. Determine whether specialized structural, electrical, environmental, or hazardous-material cleanup contractors are needed.

·   N95 filtering facepiece respirators: May be appropriate for general smoke-related particulates when particulate filtration is the identified need. N95s do not protect against gases or vapors and are not appropriate for oxygen-deficient, IDLH, or unknown atmospheres.

·   P100 filters: Provide greater particulate filtration and may be appropriate for heavier particulate or ash/debris cleanup when selected through the employer's hazard evaluation. The correct respirator and protection level must be based on the actual contaminants, exposure, task, and OSHA requirements.

·   Voluntary respirator use - 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2): When respirator use is not required and the employer determines voluntary use will not create a hazard, voluntary filtering-facepiece use is permitted. The employer must provide Appendix D information. Voluntary use limited to filtering facepieces does not require a written respiratory-protection program.

·   Required respirator use - 29 CFR 1910.134: When respiratory protection is required, applicable requirements include hazard evaluation, NIOSH-approved respirator selection, medical evaluation, fit testing for tight-fitting respirators, training, and a written program.

·   Eyes / face: Use safety glasses or goggles where ash, soot, dust, debris, chemicals, or flying particles can contact the eyes.

·   Hands: Use leather or cut-resistant gloves for sharp debris and rough cleanup; use appropriate chemical-resistant gloves, such as nitrile where suitable, for wet cleaning or contact with residues. Glove selection must match the specific hazard.

·   Clothing / skin: Long sleeves and long pants can reduce skin contact and irritation from ash and fire-related residue. Flame-resistant clothing should be used only where the hazard assessment identifies a specific heat/flame exposure requiring it.

·   Footwear: Use sturdy, closed-toe, slip-resistant work boots; puncture-resistant or safety-toe footwear may be needed around nails, sharp debris, falling/rolling objects, or rough terrain.

·   Visibility: Use high-visibility garments where smoke, low light, traffic, or mobile equipment reduces worker visibility.

·   Hearing: Provide hearing protection such as earplugs or earmuffs when generator, emergency-equipment, machinery, or cleanup noise reaches levels requiring protection under OSHA's occupational-noise requirements.

·   Dust control: Use wet-cleaning methods and HEPA-equipped vacuums where appropriate to reduce airborne particulate. Avoid dry sweeping or other methods that unnecessarily re-suspend ash and dust. Protect skin and eyes from contact with fire-related residue.

·   Hazardous materials: Keep untrained workers away from unknown residues, damaged chemical containers, leaking cylinders/tanks, and uncontrolled releases. Maintain Hazard Communication requirements (29 CFR 1910.1200), including labels, SDS information, and employee training.

·   HAZWOPER: Evaluate 29 CFR 1910.120 when cleanup involves a hazardous-substance emergency release or qualifying post-emergency cleanup. Section 1910.120(q)(11) addresses post-emergency response cleanup. Ordinary fire cleanup is not automatically a HAZWOPER operation.

·   Heat Conditions: Provide cool drinking water, shade or cooling opportunities, and appropriate rest breaks. Train employees to recognize heat-stress symptoms.

·   Visibility / driving: Smoke can reduce visibility quickly. Work vehicles should use headlights, reduce speed, increase following distance, and pause non-essential vehicle movement when visibility or roadway conditions become unsafe.

·   Ventilation: During heavy outdoor smoke, keep windows and doors closed when feasible, manage HVAC settings to limit outdoor smoke entry while maintaining safe building ventilation, and inspect/replace HVAC filters more frequently as conditions warrant.

·   Symptoms: Workers should immediately report coughing, difficulty breathing, headache, dizziness, or eye/throat irritation. Employers should reassess the exposure and adjust duties, provide cleaner-air work locations, or remove affected workers from the exposure as appropriate. Seek medical attention when symptoms are severe or persistent.

INJURED AT WORK DURING FIRE RECOVERY?

Know what to do and where to get help.

4 STEPS FOR AN INJURED WORKER

1. Report the injury. Tell your employer or supervisor about the injury, or report an occupational disease at the first sign.

2. Complete Form C-1. Complete the Notice of Injury or Occupational Disease - Incident Report. Sign and date it and have your employer or supervisor sign and date it. The C-1 must be completed within 7 days.

3. Get treatment if needed. If medical treatment is appropriate, use an authorized medical provider and complete Form C-4 during the initial visit.

4. Ask for help. If you have questions about your claim or believe it is not being handled properly, contact your employer, insurer, claims adjuster, or the Workers' Compensation Section.

More than 90,000 Washoe County residents are displaced, as the Hawk Fire continues to endanger families and homes near Peavine Peak and the Somersett area. Commissioner Ned Gaines and the Division are monitoring the fire’s behaviors, evacuation orders, and impacted neighborhoods. Local officials have reported the Hawk fire has burned structures and homes but have not yet released an official count. 

The Division requests insurers provide flexibility to impacted policyholders on premium payments and to provide support in the claims filing process. Impacted insureds should review their homeowner's, rental, condominium and business policies to determine what coverage is available to them. Many policies cover additional living expenses to pay for hotels, food and other unexpected costs due to being evacuated from home. Business insurance policies may cover loss of income for businesses forced to close due to the wildfires.  

Insureds impacted by a fire evacuation may be entitled to cost reimbursement from their insurance company for loss of use and additional living expenses. Insureds should review their policy and contact their insurance agent or insurance company before filing a claim. If they experience issues filing a claim or need help navigating the process, consumers are encouraged to attempt to resolve any issues with their insurance agent and/or insurance company by working with them directly or contacting the Division to file a formal complaint. 

The Division of Insurance will work with licensed entities who are impacted by the wildfires on license renewals and submission of required reports. Please contact the Division at 775-687-0700 option 2 to provide details of your issue.

Resources:

Wildfire Recovery Guide for Consumers: https://doi.nv.gov/Recovery/

To better understand your insurance policy, read How to Read Your Policy at https://doi.nv.gov/Consumers/Homeowners-Insurance/Read-Your-Policy/.

Learn more about preparing a home inventory at https://doi.nv.gov/Consumers/Homeowners-Insurance/Home-Inventory/

MLD is prepared to offer guidance to any impacted licensees or consumers experiencing delays or difficulties completing mortgage transactions. We are also evaluating potential regulatory flexibilities, if needed, to support affected individuals. In addition, the Division will continue to track and report any emerging concerns or requests for assistance from the public. 

If you are experiencing any mortgage‑related issues connected to the Hawk Fire, please contact the Mortgage Lending Division so we may assist you.

• For general inquiries, please contact us at 702‑486‑0782 or mldinfo@mld.nv.gov.
• For licensing‑related questions, please reach us at MLDlicensing@mld.nv.gov.

The Nevada Housing Division is working to identify Low Income Housing Tax Credit and Manufactured Home Community properties that may be potentially impacted by the fire and are monitoring the situation to determine what assistance may be available to impacted residents.  

If you have questions or concerns about your manufactured home or if you are a resident of a Federally Assisted Low Income Housing Community, the division can be reached by email at NHDinfo@housing.nv.gov.

On August 23^rd, 2026, the Governor issued a Declaration of Emergency due to the Hawk Fire. Under NAC 706A.290(2), transportation network companies are prohibited from charging a fare that exceeds the base fare during a declared state of emergency.  Accordingly, TNC’s operating within the area of the declared emergency may not impose surge pricing. 

The NTA encourages anyone who believe a TNC has charged a fare in violation of this provision to file a complaint with the Authority and provide information about the trip, including the date and time, name of company, pick up and drop off locations, fare charged and any other documents at https://nta.nv.gov.

The Office of the Labor Commissioner’s (OLC) Carson City location is operating normally and remains open to the public.  Online services are also available. The agency will provide flexibility on deadlines for licensees, parties to current claims, and other constituents affected by the fires who have pending matters before the OLC. 

OLC site visits in affected areas will not occur until further notice, and Professional Employer Organization (PEO) licensees with pending site visits in those areas may experience delays in the processing and distribution of their 2026–2027 licenses. The OLC will continue to monitor conditions and provide regulatory flexibility as needed. For additional information, visit https://labor.nv.gov or contact the OLC at Mail1@labor.nv.gov.

RETURNING TO YOUR BUSINESS AFTER THE HAWK FIRE?

Take these steps before employees return or begin cleanup.

The Nevada Real Estate Division is available to assist any licensees that may be affected by the fires in Northern Nevada. Licensees that are unable to renew online or mail in their renewals are requested to contact the Licensing Section for assistance. Our staff will work with affected licensees to make appropriate accommodations. Education providers and applicants for Real Estate Testing please contact the Education section for assistance.

• Licensing: licensing@red.nv.gov; Phone: (702) 486-0951; Fax: (702) 486-4275
• Education Section: realest@red.nv.gov; Phone: (702) 486-4489; Fax: (702) 486-4275

 For Homeowners Associations requiring assistance on annual registrations and renewals, please contact HOAregistrations@red.nv.gov; Phone: (702) 486-4480.