The Davis Fire was a destructive, fast-moving wildfire that burned in Washoe Valley, Nevada from September 7 – September 25, 2024. The fire ignited in Davis Creek Regional Park due to an improperly extinguished campfire around 2:30 pm on September 7. At a final size of , the fire destroyed sixteen primary structures and twenty–two outbuildings, injured one firefighter, and prompted evacuations for roughly 20,000 people.
The fire rapidly grew to the night it started, prompting evacuations in Washoe Valley and south Reno and closing several roads. By the next morning, it was estimated at and Nevada governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency. The fire size was revised to . A red flag warning was issued on September 10 as the fire grew to roughly . A particularly dangerous situation was issued by the National Weather Service Reno on September 11 due to strong winds that were forcast to gust up to from a cold front, with projections showing the fire spreading between north. However, crews were able to control spread of the fire west of State Route 431 and evacuations were reduced on September 12, but the fire had grown to . The fire received moisture due to the cold front in the following days. A burned area emergency response team began burn severity on September 17, and the Davis Fire reached 100% containment on September 25, 2024.
At its peak, the Davis Fire threatened 36,000 structures. Among the destroyed structures was the Holy Spirit Catholic Mission, the only church that held a Latin mass in Northern Nevada. Suppression efforts cost roughly $12.6 million and the cost of restoring Davis Creek Regional Park is estimated to be at least $2 million. One bear who received extensive burns was euthanized by the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
Background
Over the first ten days of September 2024 experienced above-average peak temperatures in valleys in Western Nevada around . Strong regional winds contributed to the fire's spread on the day of ignition. On September 11, there were sustained winds up to caused by a low–pressure area passing over the Pacific Northwest, with the Reno area around the southern point. Across the Western United States, climate change has caused more impactful heat waves and has led to an increase of wildfires in the Western United States.
An abundance of the invasive species Bromus tectorum (colloquially known as cheatgrass) contributed to conditions conducive for wildfire spread across Nevada in 2024, allowing more frequent ignition and more rapid spread. The two previous winters, 2022–23 and 2023–24, both saw an above–average snowpack, resulting in larger numbers of cheatgrass across the state. Drought and hot conditions dried out cheatgrass and other vulnerable vegetation before and during fire season, providing the wildfires a plentiful amount of dry fuel. Dry conditions were present throughout Western Nevada during the fire; all of Western Nevada was under at least abnormally dry conditions, as classified by the United States Drought Monitor. The fire primarily burned in dry brush. The portions of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest the Davis Fire burned in areas where the forest was much denser than historically: many forests in the Sierra Nevada have grown denser due to strict orders in the 20th century to immediately suppress all wildfires. Such fuels included pine needles, dead leaves, and dead tree limbs.
The Davis Fire burned in a wildland-urban interface, the heavily populated foothills of the Carson Range, increasing the number of structures threatened.
The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) station that would have been closest to the location of the Davis Fire, the Bowers Mansion station, permanently closed in 2022 after a bat infestation. TMFPD reported repairs would have cost tens of thousands of dollars. The Bowers Mansion station was away from Davis Creek Regional Park, and the closest station in operation when the Davis Fire started was the Eastlake Station. KRNV–DT reporting driving from the Bowers Mansion station to Davis Creek Regional Park took under two minutes while driving there from the Eastlake Station took roughly five minutes and thirty seconds. A resident stated having a closer station would have helped "big time" in combatting the fire.
Cause The Davis Fire was first reported in the day use area of Davis Creek Regional Park around 2:30 pm on September 7, 2024, burning in heavy timber and brush. After extensive investigations, the fire was determined to have been started accidentally by an improperly extinguished campfire, although campfires are not permitted in the day use area of Davis Creek Regional Park.
Progression September 7–11
On September 7 around 2:30 pm, a vegetation fire was reported burning in heavy timber and brush in Davis Creek Regional Park. The fire quickly destroyed structures in the park. Evacuations were ordered in southwest Reno and New Washoe City, accompanied by an evacuation warning in Virginia City Highlands. Interstate 580 was closed in both directions from Damonte Ranch Parkway in Reno to College Parkway in Carson City. A resident stated, "traffic was backed up for miles on backroads out of Washoe Valley". The fire spread to that evening. An evacuation center was put crated at the Washoe County Senior Citizen Center. Washoe County Regional Animal Services had mobile shelters for small animals, and large animal shelters opened at the University of Nevada, Reno Equestrian Center in Reno and Fuji Park and Silver Saddle Ranch in Carson City. Officials at the Nevada Governor's Office contacted agencies from several other states to assist with containing the fire. U.S. Route 395 Alternate closed in Washoe Valley. NV Energy cut power to 18,698 customers. Those who had not yet lost power were told to prepare for "potential long outages".
On September 8, Davis Fire had grown to and had made an extreme northwards spread along State Route 431, also known as Mount Rose Highway. Interstate 580 reopened between Reno and Carson City and Alternate US 395 reopened to the interchange with Bowers Mansion Road. Between 12,000 and 14,000 were impacted by evacuation notices, and several hotels were giving discounted rates on rooms for evacuees. However, evacuations north of Mount Rose Highway that were lifted overnight were reinstated. Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency due to the Davis Fire, and Washoe County declared an emergency proclamation. Fire crews prioritized keeping the fire south and east of Mount Rose Highway. Evacuations expanded that night as winds drove the fire towards Mount Rose Highway.
The estimated size was lowered to on September 9. Active fire behavior was observed on the southwestern edge near Mount Rose Highway. Despite aircraft limitations from strong wind and smoke, crews utilized roads and natural features. Local strike teams prioritized structure protection, and out–of–state resources were sent in. The evacuation warning for Virginia City Highlands was lifted and most power had been restored.
A red flag warning was issued on September 10, with such conditions allowing the fire to spread to . So far, suppression efforts cost $1.2 million. Crews worked on controlling the fire's perimeter, particularly in areas of high activity. Containment increased to 31% and a community meeting was held that night. Evacuation orders were reduced to evacuation warnings in Pleasant Valley and New Washoe City.
A particularly dangerous situation was issued for September 11 because forecasts predicted sustained winds from , largely from a cold front moving over the area. This was the sixth particularly dangerous situation issued by the National Weather Service Reno, the first since 2019. Evacuation warnings were issued in west Reno up to State Route 659, also known as McCarran Boulevard. Overnight, the fire spotted Mount Rose Highway. The strong winds grounded firefighting aircraft. All off–duty firefighters in the "Reno area" were ordered to work on the fire. However, the fire grew minimally; crews held the fire where it spotted Mount Rose Highway. There were 600 firefighters assigned to the fire. The fire grew to and was 37% contained, but 2,600 structures were still threatened. All evacuation orders and warnings remained in place because of the fire's remaining threat to grow overnight.
September 12 onwards Winds had subsided on September 12 with cooler temperatures around , and humidity levels reached 60%. The fire stayed within its footprint, and crews achieved 56% containment. Containment lines were established for the northernmost part of the fire, the area of the fire that posed the greatest risk to homes in Reno. Half of the customers without power were re-energized, and the evacuation warnings between the Arrowcreek neighborhood and McCarran Boulevard were lifted.
On September 13, crews conducted firing operations near Winter Creek Road. Evacuation orders were lifted in Montreux. The cold front moving in brought moisture on September 14 that would last for several days. Containment increased to 76%, and evacuation orders in Galena and St. James Village were lowered to evacuation warnings. On September 15, firefighters changed suppression to be conducive for forest regrowth by removing resources from secured areas.
The fire was at 85% containment by September 16 and the entirety of Mount Rose Highway reopened. "Widespread showers" were reported. On September 17, the fire was now 92% contained, and a burned area emergency response team and local agencies began conducting a damage assessment in the burned area. Crews were split between patrolling the fire's perimeter and repairing the affected area; mop–up and suppression efforts had concluded.
The Davis Fire was fully contained on September 25, 2024 at a final size of .
Effects Damage The Davis Fire destroyed fourteen residential structures, two commercial structures, and twenty–two outbuildings. Among the burned structures was the Holy Spirit Catholic Mission, which hosted the only Latin Mass in Northern Nevada. Nearly all church documents were lost. The Chocolate Nugget Candy Factory was almost burned down by the fire, which came from the entrance. The Davis Fire threatened over 36,000 structures.
Washoe County experienced a shortage of resources to fight the fire. Final suppression efforts cost about $12.6 million.
On September 11, Truckee Meadows Water Authority "urged" residents in southwest Reno to stop outdoor watering and minimize separate water usage. On September 7, 18,698 NV Energy customers across the Reno metropolitan area experienced power outages. A public safety outage watch was issued in Carson City, Glenbrook, and Genoa for 322 customers. Three broadcast stations on Slide Mountain were affected by power outages.
Davis Creek Regional Park
The fire burned about of the in Davis Creek Regional Park. Costs to repair the park are expected to exceed $2 million for a ranger residence and garage, electric infrastructure, five outbuildings, an amphitheater, a utility trailer, and various small equipment and utilities. Several restoration efforts have occurred, including erosion prevention, reseeding, and rebuilding. The park remained closed throughout 2025, while Davis Creek Campground and the equestrian center have remained closed. Davis Creek Regional Park was completely closed from the Davis Fire though the end of 2025 due to heavy infrastructure damage.
Injuries One firefighter suffered an eye injury that was described as "life–altering" and "possibly career–ending" by the Reno Firefighters Association because he lost sight in his eye. A bear, found burned by the fire on September 17, was treated by the Nevada Department of Wildlife and Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center for third–degree burns. The bear was euthanized after its condition "worsened substantially" after September 20.
Closures and evacuations