For the past five years, Lars Mintz, a 27-year-old Reno resident and devoted Burning Man attendee, carried his entire life in a camper van. He had been preparing for weeks to head to Black Rock City again this year when disaster struck on Saturday.
While Mintz was driving home from his job at a children’s ski area, a neighbor called with devastating news: Peavine Mountain was burning, and so was all of his Burning Man gear and personal belongings.
The fast-moving Hawk Fire, which ignited in northwest Reno on Saturday and exploded to 15,051 acres with 27% containment as of Monday afternoon, had quickly turned destructive. Mintz said he didn’t realize the danger until it was too late, and his entire life went up in flames…