# Prepare to Evacuate with Pets: Bug Fire Grows to 17,000 Acres as Nevada Declares State of Emergency

Source: https://dogfriendlylasvegas.com/dog-news/local-dog-news/bug-fire-grows-to-17000-acres-as-nevada-declares-state-of-emergency-near-reno/
Published: 2026-08-11

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The Bug Fire burning north of Reno has grown to roughly 17,000 acres with containment at just 4 percent, prompting Nevada Gov.

 

Joe Lombardo to declare a state of emergency for parts of Washoe County and the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony.

 

The declaration frees up state resources for the fire response and comes as a second, smaller blaze called the Fred Mountain Fire burns nearby at around 1,400 acres with no containment.

 

Dog Friendly Las Vegas first reported on the Bug Fire’s pet evacuation shelters over the weekend, when the fire had burned about 15,000 acres.

 

Conditions have worsened since then, and pet owners in several Washoe County neighborhoods now face new evacuation orders.

 

Evacuation warnings for the Red Rock area were upgraded to full orders on Monday afternoon.

 

The affected zones stretch from Thoroughbred Circle to Red Rock, and cover Porcupine Mountain, Frontier Road, Quarter Horse Circle, Appaloosa Creek, Seven Lakes Mountain, and Belgian Way, according to [KOLO 8 News Now](https://www.kolotv.com/2026/08/10/evacuation-warnings-red-rock-upgraded-orders/).

 

Anyone under a “go” order in those areas should leave immediately with pets, medications, and identification documents.

 

Residents in “get set” warning zones should also prepare to evacuate with their animals soon, since Washoe County Animal Services says it does not currently have capacity to accept pets from those areas.

 

The fire’s spread also forced the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony to advise Hungry Valley tribal residents to evacuate immediately Monday morning.

 

A dedicated evacuation center for tribal members has opened at the RSIC Reno Gym on Reservation Road.

 

Eight Washoe County schools closed Monday because of the fire threat, including Desert Heights, Silver Lake, Lemmon Valley, Alyce Taylor, and Jesse Hall elementary schools, along with Shaw Middle School and Spanish Springs High School.

 

The closures reflect how far the fire’s reach has extended beyond the immediate evacuation zones.

 

Washoe County Regional Animal Services continues taking in small animals, including dogs, at its shelter on Longley Lane in Reno.

 

A separate site at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center is still housing more than 150 evacuated livestock and other large animals.

 

The Bureau of Land Management has determined the Bug Fire was human caused, though officials have not released further details on how it started.

 

The fire ignited Saturday afternoon near the California-Nevada border and has grown rapidly through dry brush amid hot, dry, and windy conditions.

 

Nevada pet owners in wildfire-prone areas should keep a go bag ready that includes food, water, medications, a leash, and vaccination records.

 

We will continue tracking the Bug Fire’s impact on Nevada pets, along with the [evacuation shelter details it first reported over the weekend](https://dogfriendlylasvegas.com/dog-news/local-dog-news/bug-fire-near-reno-prompts-pet-evacuation-shelters-as-thousands-flee-homes/), as conditions change.