·S1 E233
Nevada declares emergency as Reno area fires force 6,000 evacuations; Hawaii watches likely Central Pacific tropical cyclone
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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SourcesNIFC and Wildfire
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
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