Nevada declares emergency as Reno area fires force 6,000 evacuations; Hawaii watches likely Central Pacific tropical cyclone

August 11
11 mins

Episode Description

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo declares a state of emergency as the Bug and Fred Mountain fires force more than 6,000 evacuations north of Reno, while the nation holds at Preparedness Level 5 with 98 uncontained large fires and extreme fire behavior on Washington’s Little Giant Fire and Oregon’s Wrights Spring Fire. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center gives a disturbance east southeast of Hawaii a 90 percent chance of development, CISA and the FBI publish a joint advisory on Gunra ransomware, and forecasters warn of impactful flash flooding in the Ohio Valley. Plus storm driven power outages in Ohio, Virginia, and Maryland, a boil water advisory in South Carolina, and Wyoming’s largest fire of the year on South Pass. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast.

Key Takeaways

Nevada state of emergency: Governor Lombardo declares an emergency for portions of Washoe County and the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony as the Bug Fire (17,000 acres, 4 percent) and Fred Mountain Fire (3,481 acres, 0 percent) force more than 6,000 evacuations, close eight schools, and threaten water, power, gas, airport, and telecom infrastructure.

National fire picture: The nation remains at Preparedness Level 5 with 98 uncontained large fires and 29,840 personnel assigned; the Northwest holds 46 uncontained large fires, with extreme behavior on the Little Giant Fire in Washington (111,429 acres, 2 percent, 26 structures destroyed) and the Wrights Spring Fire in Oregon.

Oregon FMAGs: FEMA approves Fire Management Assistance Grants for the Wrights Spring and Hagen fires, Oregon’s sixth and seventh of 2026, as Level 3 evacuations continue around Sprague River and Chiloquin.

Hawaii tropical watch: A Central Pacific disturbance about 1,100 miles east southeast of the islands has a 90 percent chance of development over seven days, with a depression expected by midweek; interests in Hawaii should monitor closely.

Cyber: CISA, the FBI, and partners release joint advisory AA26-222A on Gunra ransomware, a double extortion variant exploiting exposed VPN gateways, firewalls, and RDP across critical infrastructure sectors.

Severe weather: Impactful flash flooding is possible in the Ohio Valley with 2 to 4 more inches of rain, damaging winds are expected across northern Illinois and the Ohio Valley, and an Extreme Heat Warning covers the St. Louis metro through Wednesday evening.

Storm outages: Monday storms cut power to tens of thousands in Northeast Ohio, more than 28,000 Appalachian Power customers in Virginia, and more than 25,500 BGE customers in Maryland; Hopewell, Virginia schools close Tuesday.

Wyoming: The Weiser Knoll Fire on South Pass becomes the state’s largest of 2026 at an estimated 13,350 acres with evacuations in the Twin Creek drainage.

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Sources

NIFC and Wildfire

NIFC National Fire News, August 10, 2026: PL 5, 98 uncontained large fires, state by state large fire summary

Tropical Weather

Central Pacific Hurricane Center Tropical Weather Outlook: disturbance east southeast of Hawaii

NHC Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook: low southwest of Cabo Verde Islands

CISA

Joint advisory AA26-222A, StopRansomware: Gunra Ransomware (August 10, 2026)

NWS and Weather

WPC Short Range Forecast Discussion: Ohio Valley flash flood concern, heat from Central Plains to Southeast

USGS

USGS event page: M4.6 offshore Sand Point, Alaska, August 11, 2026

HVO daily update: Kilauea Episode 53 fountaining forecast window August 12 to 15

AVO update: Great Sitkin continues slow summit lava eruption at Watch and Orange

California

CBS San Francisco: Timber Fire near Big Sur, evacuation order includes Ventana Inn area

CBS Sacramento: Bug Fire on California-Nevada border, Lassen and Sierra county evacuations

Hawaii

Hawaii News Now: tracking possible tropical cyclone heading toward the state

Maryland

CBS Baltimore: storms bring heavy rain, damaging winds, tornado warning, BGE outages

Minnesota

Minnesota News Network: BWCA campsite reopening, Camp and Bear Trap containment

InciWeb: July 2026 Superior NF wildfires

Missouri

NWS St. Louis Extreme Heat Warning through Wednesday evening

Nevada

Nevada Current: Lombardo declares state of emergency for Washoe fires

KOLO: Red Rock evacuation warnings upgraded to orders, shelter and school closures

New Mexico

Los Alamos Reporter: Frijoles Fire morning update, 3,290 acres, 0 percent containment

Source NM: health officials warn of smoke impacts as Frijoles Fire grows

Ohio

WKYC: power outages across Northeast Ohio after severe thunderstorms

Oregon

KDRV: FEMA approves funding for the Wrights Spring Fire

Jefferson Public Radio: Wrights Spring Fire evacuations in Klamath County

InciWeb: Wrights Spring Fire

South Carolina

WRDW: boil water advisory for parts of Clearwater and North Augusta after main break

Texas

KFDM: storms knock out power to thousands in Jefferson County

Texas Storm Chasers: Panhandle fire danger and statewide heat

Virginia

WDBJ7: over 28,000 Appalachian Power customers without power

WTVR: Hopewell storm damage, schools closed Tuesday

Washington

KPQ: Little Giant Fire update, structures threatened, Lake Chelan evacuations

KING 5: Little Giant Fire destroys 26 structures including 2 homes

Chelan County Emergency Management: active emergencies and evacuation levels

Wyoming

WyoFile: Weiser Knoll Fire explodes on South Pass, Wyoming’s largest of 2026

County 10: Level 2 evacuation notice for Johnnie Lee’s Corner and Twin Creek drainage

Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

Local 10: Atlantic looks to break its silence this week

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