Smoke

It will be a pleasant start to the week with warming conditions and sunny skies for the Carson City area but changes are around the corner, according to the National Weather Service.

The U.S. Forest Service announced Wednesday its hazardous fuels reduction burning plans for the Carson and Bridgeport Rangers Districts. Among those planned pile burns include 102 acres in Little Valley near the area of last year's catastrophic wildfire in Washoe Valley.

Smoke from northern California fires will linger around for the next couple days, with potential degrading air quality over the Carson City and Lake Tahoe regions, according to the National Weather Service.

Air quality around our area is fairly poor, due to the multiple fires in Northern California, so indoor activities are recommended for anyone having a hard time with the smoke. Luckily, Carson City has just the ticket. Get your jazz on at Living the Good Life; Cherie Shipley is hosting tonight’s jam. Kick up your heels during country line dance lessons at the Eleventh Frame Lounge inside Carson Lanes. You’ll learn something new every Tuesday and Wednesday night. Pizza is on the menu for dinner tonight.

It might be a blustery Sunday, but the snow isn’t falling yet so enjoy what’s left of our Indian Summer. Whatever you couldn’t cram into Saturday is probably still around: the Aviation Round-up, Italian Festival, and the Outhouse races are still going strong. The Carson City BMX season is coming to an end soon, go check out their races at Livermore Sports Complex. Find some inner peace in the newly renovated Comma Coffee with Community Yoga or a Heart-ful Gong Meditation session. See the full listing below.

Some weekends are pretty cut and dry, just a few things to choose among. This, however, is not one of those weekends. High-flying, death-defying action takes over the Minden Airport as the Aviation Roundup Air Show takes to the skies. Pasta-lovers won’t want to miss the Eldorado Great Italian Festival in downtown Reno. Carson City’s monthly Downtown Wine Walk gets a dose of nostalgia as the Western Airstream Convention sets up shop and welcomes the curious.

UPDATE 6:52PM: Firefighters were able to get the upper hand on the Stephanie Fire burning in northeast Douglas County, with a reported 10 acres burned. It was originally reported as 18 acres but was downsized. The cause was a vehicle. Douglas County notes there wasn't a plane crash that had been rumored. East Fork Fire and multiple agencies responded.
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UPDATE 5:56PM: The Stephanie Fire burning in northeast Douglas County has grown to 18 acres, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center.

Carson City sheriff’s deputies arrested two men in separate alleged stolen vehicle incidents on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Two men were also arrested in separate incidents for alleged domestic battery offenses.

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team, which includes local, state and federal fire and land management agencies in the Lake Tahoe Basin, will begin their fall prescribed fire program in early October, weather permitting.

UPDATE 10:40PM: The fire has been knocked down and a fire investigator has been called to the scene.
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Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called late Wednesday night to the 3500 block of Highway 50 East near the Phillips Motel and Mobile Home Park for a travel trailer on fire.

UPDATE 2:19PM: The fire has been contained. Engines are being released, however the water tenders will stay in place for now, according to a Carson City Fire Department Battalion Chief on scene. The equipment that caught fire is cooling down with water being used to douse the hot spots.
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Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called Wednesday afternoon to the 8000 block of Highway 50 East for a structure fire at an asphalt plant.

The Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called late Tuesday morning to a semi-truck with overheated brakes that was putting out smoke in the area of College Parkway and Highway 50 East.

UPDATE 338PM: Thursday's power outage was caused by an NV Energy fuse on a power line that feeds Carson High School, according to Carson City School District Spokesman Dan Davis. Wednesday's electrical storm may or may not be blamed for the equipment failure, he said.

The failure caused a brown-out at CHS that resulted in partial power going into the electrical devices requiring 3-phase power. This brown-out condition caused HVAC pumps and motors to labor inefficiently causing electrical smells and raising safety concerns.

The fire alarms were engaged and students evacuated for safety purposes. NV Energy arrived at CHS soon thereafter. Unfortunately, workers did not notify school administration that they would be turning off the power to the building that they did at lunch time.

"Coincidentally, a fight occurred in the hallway of the school and students were running toward the fight in darkened hallways. Not knowing if the power would be out for a short or long duration and in light of the already agitated student body, we decided to release the students early. School messenger calls were made to the parents notifying them of the early release. Power was restored to the school earlier this Thursday, and class will resume as usual Friday," said Davis.

UPDATE 1:30PM: Following the cancellation some skirmishes were reported as fights. Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said there was adequate school resource officers and patrol coverage at the time school was released and none thus far resulted in arrests.
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UPDATE 12:30PM: Carson High School was canceled Thursday at around 12 noon due to electrical issues and a power outage, according to Carson City School District Superintendent Richard Stokes.

Earlier today a "popping" sound was heard near the boiler room that forced the school to be evacuated. Students returned to class. However, the electrical issues continued and school was shut down.

Students can walk home, drive if they have a vehicle or call their parents, said Superintendent Stokes. The district is contacting parents now regarding the matter. School buses will run at their regular 2 p.m. times.

Carson City Sheriff's Office deputies have stepped up patrolling the area at Saliman, Highway 50 East and Fifth Street due to heavy traffic flow in the area because of the school closure.
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UPDATE 12:05PM: Carson High School Resource Officers report a second evacuation Thursday due to testing of the electrical system. Students had been evacuated briefly earlier this morning due to an electrical issue near the boiler room. School maintenance is investigating.
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UPDATE 11:08AM: Students are now being allowed back into their classrooms, according to Carson City school resource officers on scene.
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Carson City Fire Department was called Thursday morning after school resource officers at Carson High School heard a "popping" sound near the boiler room and could smell smoke. Administrators pulled the fire alarm for precautionary measures and an evacuation was made.

Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called early Monday evening to the area behind Home Depot and Walmart for a reported brush fire.

UPDATE 1:25PM: The fire in a storage lot area off of Arrowhead Drive is under control, burning around a half-acre, said Carson City Fire Department Chief Sean Slamon. No additional resources are needed.
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UPDATE 1:12PM: Firefighters have made progress on the fire, knocking down much of the flames. The fire started in a storage lot area. Two older vehicles parked in the storage lot area were damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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The Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called Friday afternoon to a brush fire in the 5400 block of Arrowhead Drive.

High pressure will continue to provide unseasonably hot temperatures through Tuesday with areas of wildfire smoke and haze and a chance of afternoon thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

A brush fire behind a house on Cabrolet Drive on the west side of Carson City was quickly knocked down by firefighters late Friday morning.

The fire was reported at around 11 a.m. in the 1200 block of Cabrolet and burned into brush and a fence, putting up smoke and flames before firefighters knocked it down. It was fully extinguished at 11:41 a.m.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible Tuesday night in Carson City and portions of western Nevada and eastern California, according to the National Weather Service.

A 26-year-old Carson City woman was arrested Monday for suspicion of felony mayhem and misdemeanor second offense domestic battery, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

Fire crews are battling the Tungsten Fire east of Fallon that started Monday afternoon and was sending smoke into the Dayton area.

Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called Monday afternoon to the parking lot of Buffalo Wild Wings in the 3800 block of South Carson Street for an RV on fire. It was extinguished by the time firefighters arrived.

A 46-year-old Carson City man was arrested Sunday for felony suspicion of domestic battery with strangulation, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

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:

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.

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

Solar viewing glasses will be turned to the sky for Monday’s solar eclipse. While Carson City and western Nevada are not in the totality path, the eclipse will still be quite visible, with 75 to 90 percent of totality, or the percent of the sun obscured, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

UPDATE 8:34PM: Six Mile Fire is roughly 250 acres and 40 percent contained, Storey County officials announced Friday night via social media. The fire will be staffed throughout the night. Weather conditions are favorable and no structures or communities are threatened at this time. Six Mile Canyon Road remains closed and is patrolled by the Sheriff's Office to maintain safety.
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UPDATE 2:47PM: A Carson City Fire Department brush unit was called up Friday afternoon to help fight the Six Mile Fire located in Storey County near Six Mile Canyon Road.
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UPDATE 2:20PM: The Six Mile Fire has grown to 150 acres, burning in grass and brush, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center. Multiple fire units are on the scene with air and ground support. According to Storey County's Facebook page, there are no evacuations in place and no structures threatened at this time.

Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called early Thursday morning to a vehicle fire in the area of Highway 50 and East Nye.

UPDATE 425PM: Carson City Fire Department investigators found the source of smoke to be from an HVAC system on the roof of the building, which houses the Nevada Department of Public Safety General Services Division. All but one of the fire units called to respond have since returned to quarters.
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Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called Monday afternoon to a structure fire in the 300 block of West Nye Lane.

UPDATE 1:18PM: The fire at Western Nevada Supply was located on the loading dock and did not extend to the building, according to Carson City Fire Department Battalion Chief Tom Raw.
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Carson City Fire Department was called Sunday afternoon to a structure fire at Western Nevada Supply located in the 5400 block of South Carson Street.