Thousands Of Families Displaced By Wildfires Will Get Help Finding A Place To Stay.
Picture losing your home in a single night. No warning beyond an order to leave. That is what happened to families across Washoe County this month. Now the state is stepping in to help them get back on their feet.
Governor Joe Lombardo signed Executive Order 2026-004 on August 27. It directs the Nevada Housing Division to send rental assistance money to families hurt by this year's wildfires. The order taps into a fund that already exists, so help can move fast instead of waiting on a new law.
What Happened In Washoe County
Three fires tore through the area over the last month. The Bug Fire and Fred Mountain Fire burned more than 130,000 acres combined. Then the Hawk Fire hit Northwest Reno and the North Valleys, pushed along by dry conditions, high heat, and strong wind.
More than 40,000 Washoe County residents got evacuation orders. Power went out for many. When the smoke cleared, about 58 homes were gone. Another 10 were too damaged to live in.
Governor Lombardo declared a state of emergency for the Bug and Fred Mountain Fires on August 10. He declared a second emergency for the Hawk Fire on August 22.
Hearing firsthand the stories of resilience of Nevadans affected by the Hawk Fire is deeply inspiring.
We are united in this effort and will support you every step of the way.
Nevada is fully committed to backing you throughout the response and recovery process ahead. pic.twitter.com/rCmFnrokpP
— Governor Joe Lombardo (@JosephMLombardo) August 25, 2026
How The Help Will Work
Nevada already had a tool sitting on the shelf for a moment like this. Back in 2025, state lawmakers passed Assembly Bill 540, the Nevada Housing Access and Attainability Act. That law created the Nevada Attainable Housing Account, a pot of state money meant to help with housing costs.
Governor Lombardo's order puts that account to work. The Nevada Housing Division will send funds to the City of Reno to help residents cover short-term rental and housing costs while they rebuild. The order stays in effect through December 31, 2026.
“Over the last month, thousands of Washoe County residents have faced the uncertainty of evacuation, displacement, and, for some, the loss of their homes,” Governor Lombardo said.
“This executive order puts existing state resources to work quickly, helping families secure stable housing and recover from these devastating wildfires.”
Why This Matters To Conservatives
Limited-government conservatives usually want to see government stay out of the way. But there is a difference between everyday bureaucracy and a targeted response to a real disaster.
This order does not create a new agency or a new tax. It uses money the Legislature already approved for housing, and it sends that money to a local government that knows its own community best.
What Comes Next
Governor Lombardo said this short-term help is only the first step. He has also directed the Housing Division to build a longer-term housing stability plan for disaster recovery.
“The recovery process will take time, but the State of Nevada will be there every step of the way,” Governor Lombardo said.
“This short-term relief will help families get through the immediate challenges, but we know some residents will need support for much longer as they work to return to stable housing.”
What You Can Do
The state is routing this money through the City of Reno, so that's the place to start looking if you or someone you know was affected.
No specific application process for this wildfire fund has been announced yet, so keep an eye on the City of Reno and the Nevada Housing Division for updates in the coming weeks
Read the executive order: executive-order-2026-004
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
