On Saturday, August 22, 2026, at approximately 11:25 a.m., two Rail Team members received notifications from the Watch Duty app regarding a new wildfire reported just north of Reno, Nevada.

After reviewing the available information and investigating the incident, the team determined that the initial evacuation zone included railroad tracks along the Reno Industrial Lead. As the fire and evacuation area developed, the incident also affected the Reno Industrial Lead in the Stead area.

Recognizing the potential impact on railroad operations and safety, one Rail Team member contacted the Union Pacific Railroad Monitoring and Communications Center (RMCC), the railroad’s emergency notification center. The team member provided information regarding the fire’s location, the evacuation zone, affected railroad crossings, and the anticipated increase in fire personnel using a specific railroad crossing to access the Peavine Peak area.

Shortly after the initial notification, RMCC contacted the Rail Team member again to request additional information about the incident. Some of the requested information—including the cause of the fire, the number of structures involved, and the size of the communities affected—was not available to the Rail Team and therefore could not be provided.

At approximately 5:45 p.m., a Union Pacific Fire train departed the Sparks Yard and proceeded toward the Reno Industrial Lead.

This incident demonstrates the importance of situational awareness and communication when a wildfire develops near railroad infrastructure. Through the use of Watch Duty, monitoring of developing incidents, and direct communication with railroad emergency personnel, the Rail Team was able to provide timely information that could assist Union Pacific in assessing potential impacts to its operations and railroad crossings.

The Rail Team’s role is not to replace emergency services or railroad personnel, but to observe, communicate and help connect important information when conditions near the railroad change