Family in Reno Grapples with Loss After Devastating Hawk Fire
Amidst the chaos of the Hawk Fire that swept through Reno on August 22, Francisco Lopez finds himself in a predicament far grimmer than he ever anticipated. The 47-year-old is currently in the intensive care unit of UC Davis’s burn center in California, grappling with severe injuries sustained in the blaze. His home, along with nearly all his possessions, was reduced to ashes.
Francisco’s son, Juan Lopez, revealed that this tragedy is yet another chapter of hardship in his father’s life, already marked by a series of health challenges. Having worked for years in a Reno butcher shop, Francisco had experienced a work accident resulting in the partial amputation of two fingers. Subsequently, diabetes led to further amputations, leaving him unable to continue working.
Residing in a trailer in the North Valleys area with his partner and her 83-year-old aunt, Hayde Medina Valiente, Francisco was caught off guard by the fast-moving fire. On the afternoon of the fire, Juan was at work when his mother called, concerned about Francisco’s safety as the flames approached North Valleys.
Around 5 p.m., Juan tried to reach his father but received no answer. It was not until two hours later that Francisco returned the call, informing Juan he was in a Reno hospital after sustaining burns from the fire.
“When he told me he was in the hospital because of the fire, my heart dropped,” Juan recounted. “I didn’t know what to think. I just hoped and prayed he would be okay.”
According to Juan, Francisco and his partner had briefly left their trailer to get water and returned to find it engulfed in flames. In a desperate attempt to save their three dogs, Francisco re-entered the inferno but fell into the fire. Remarkably, he managed to escape on his own.
Both Francisco and the two women were taken to a local Reno hospital around 6 p.m. Due to the severity of Francisco’s burns, doctors decided he required specialized care, transferring him to the UC Davis burn center at approximately 3 a.m. on August 23.
Medical professionals are currently assessing the extent of his injuries to determine if skin graft surgeries are necessary. Tragically, Hayde Medina Valiente succumbed to her injuries from the fire.
The fire obliterated Francisco’s trailer and belongings, including his clothing and furniture. The family suspects their three dogs perished in the blaze as well. Adding to their distress, Juan stated that his father, his partner, and Hayde never received evacuation alerts on their phones.
“I’m upset because if they had gotten that notification, I know my dad wouldn’t have tried to go back to save everything in the trailer,” Juan explained. “We wouldn’t be in this situation now. He wouldn’t have lost everything: his home, his clothes, his dogs, everything.”
Juan believes that an earlier warning could have afforded his father and the women more time to evacuate before the flames reached their residence. Now, Juan finds himself trying to support his father’s recovery while managing his job and personal life.
“I’m my dad’s only son, and trying to balance work with all of this is incredibly stressful,” Juan admitted. “Nobody thinks this will ever happen to their family.”
Uncertain about how long his father will remain hospitalized, Juan is organizing a fundraiser to assist Francisco with housing, clothing, and other essentials once he is discharged.
For now, Francisco remains in the burn unit in California, embarking on a challenging journey toward recovery. Those wishing to aid Francisco Lopez can visit the family’s GoFundMe campaign.
