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Runners ready to escape from Carson City's Prison Hill

In his second year as director of the Escape From Prison Hill 5K, 10K and Half Marathon, EJ Maldonado has learned one thing in particular. “You have to be OK with the fact that things aren’t going to be perfect,” he said.

It’s the same advice he gives to runners planning to run this year’s Carson City race on Saturday.

“It’s hard, but that’s a selling point,” he said. “It’s definitely not easy, but it’s not impossible at the same time.”

The course changed last year — after 11 years of the same route — when part of the trail was damaged from flooding. The race will continue with the altered course, which adds an additional 500 to 600 feet of climbing.

“It gives you that ultra experience in 13.1 miles,” Maldonado said. “The payoff is the view and everything else.”
The 5K, which was added last year, will also return this year.

“You still get to experience a taste of Prison Hill without it being so daunting,” he said. “You can still get that experience in a three-mile distance. You still have all that climb, and the downhill too.”

Maldonado said 5K runners can take as long to finish that race as it takes the final runner to finish the half marathon.

“They can hike it if they want to,” he said. “It’s great for all levels of runners or people who just want to get out and do something. It’s a good way to get a feel for the trail and just be part of it."

All races will take off from the Silver Saddle Ranch on Saturday. The half marathon begins at 8 a.m.; the 10K and 5K races start at 8:30.

Packets and numbers may be picked up 4-7 p.m. Friday at the Carson Mall, 1227 S. Carson St., or on race day.

Online registration is open until Wednesday at tahoemtnmilers.org/efph.html. Participants may also register on race day.

The race is the second in a three-part series, the Triple Trail Spring Challenge, which began with the Carson Canyons Half Marathon and will conclude with the Silver State 50/50 Half Marathon on May 19.

The series comes on the heels of the Ascent Winter Trail Series.

“Carson City has really identified itself as a trial-running community,” Maldonado said. “We’ve got races to support that through the entire year. We have trails going out in every direction.”

He said runners return again and again to Escape from Prison Hill.

“It is one of those races that brings people back year after year,” Maldonado said. “There’s still something to prove on it. So let’s just go out and have fun.”

If You Go
WHAT: Escape From Prison Hill Half Marathon, 10K and 5K
WHEN: 8 a.m. Saturday
WHERE: Silver Saddle Ranch
REGISTER: Escape From Prison Hill Trail Races. Open until Wednesday. Participants may also register on race day.

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Tuesday's Voltaire Fire in south Carson City off of Curry Street is contained at 135 acres and currently in mop-up phase with crews remaining to watch for hot spots, said Carson City Fire Department Chief Sean Slamon.

I’m really hoping for rain. Unfortunately, rain brings thunder and lightning with it, and we are already suffering the effects of lightning. Thanks and praises to the men and women fighting the fire in Voltaire Canyon and for all of your hard work keeping those neighborhoods safe. Smoke may be bad around the valley, so find something indoors to enjoy: our plethora of art exhibits and galleries offer up something beautiful. Hit the road with Smokey and the Bandit at Galaxy Theater. If you have an interest in the digital arts, the Wired Wednesday group meets tonight at Paradise Salon. On the agenda is a discussion of their upcoming short film competition and a recap of last week’s Jukebox International Film Festival.

WEDNESDAY:

UPDATE 9:55AM: The Lyons Fire burning in the Pine Nut Mountains northeast of Sunrise Pass in Douglas County has grown to 1,176 acres, according to Sierra Front.
***
A fire that began Tuesday afternoon southeast of Stagecoach in Lyon County exploded to 1,100 acres overnight, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center.

Several Carson Now readers captured on photograph and video a tornado-type wind phenomenon produced amidst the fire currently burning off South Curry Street near Voltaire Canyon in South Carson City.

Attached is a compilation of witness photographs as well as a video of the wind phenomenon, which appeared with a combination of thick smoke and winds in the area.

Watch the video below or here to watch it on YouTube.

Minutes after the Voltaire Fire started, the Carson City Fire Chief and Battalion Chief were arranging air strikes such as the one in the video below. By Tuesday night, incident commanders on scene report excellent progress on the fire, which is estimated at approximately 135 acres. Structure protection remain on scene.

UPDATE: Lightning strikes on Tuesday afternoon may have contributed to several fires burning in the region, including the I-80 fire near Vista Boulevard in Sparks, the Micro Fire in central Lyon County southeast of Stagecoach, the Lyons Fire, which is in Douglas County but seen as far away as Dayton and Yerington. That fire as of early Wednesday morning was reported to be around 500 acres. It is located northeast of Sunrise Pass in the Pine Nut Mountains.

UPDATE 7:15PM: All evacuations have been lifted in the Voltaire Canyon Fire, said Carson City Fire Chief Sean Slamon. Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center estimates the fire to be around 150 acres.
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UPDATE 6:29PM: Carson City Fire Chief Sean Slamon said conditions are looking better this evening, with the fire around 70 to 75 percent contained. There is not acreage estimate yet but it is likely around 100 acres and probably less than 200 acres, he said.
“Around 100 firefighters are on scene battling the blaze as well as two airplanes and two helicopters. We have released some resources now so they can go to other fires in the region.”
Evacuations remain in place for now in Voltaire Canyon and Carson Colony areas. The cause of the fire is believed to be a lightning strike.
***
UPDATE 6 PM: Carson City Fire Department Chief Sean Slamon addresses Tuesday's fire in a video here. The main concern now is the winds and terrain which is making containment difficult.

UPDATE 5:30PM: The evacuation at Galaxy Theater off of Curry Street has been lifted, according to the Carson City Sheriff's Office.
***
UPDATE 5:03PM: From Carson City Fire Department: Crews are staging to protect the homes and businesses west of Curry Street. For those outside of the immediate fire area, but nearby, you might consider what documents, medications, and valuables you would prioritize in an evacuation. There is currently 0 percent containment, winds are still erratic. Those evacuated from the Carson Colony are advised to go to the Carson Colony Gym.
***
UPDATE 4:53PM: From the Carson City Fire Department: No structures have been lost and efforts are concentrated on strucutre protection north of Koontz and west of Curry. Additional resources are continuting to arrive and the fire is estmated to be approximately 100 acres.

Reader submitted photo.

A funnel cloud formed inside the fire area Tuesday afternoon in Voltaire Canyon.

Photo taken from East Clearview Drive.

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TUESDAY:

A transient faces multiple charges including attempted murder, two counts battery with a deadly weapon and two counts assault with a deadly weapon following Friday night's stabbing of a Carson City deputy in which the deputy fired five shots at the suspect, Sheriff Ken Furlong said Monday.

UPDATE 8:48PM: The injured driver of the vehicle that slammed into a building at 4th and Curry Monday night has been flown by Care Flight to the trauma ward at Renown Medical Center in Reno. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
***
Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called Monday night to a vehicle that crashed into a building at 4th and Curry streets.

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Here is his story:

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