Smoke

After two years of fundraising events from bake sales to their jeans day event, the Department of Administration, Activities Committee was finally able to throw their long planned employee appreciation event Thursday afternoon in the grassy lot across from the State Archives building in Carson City.

The Washoe Zephyr is a double-sided coin. The breeze is a welcome reprieve from hot summer afternoons and can do wonders clearing the smoke from the valley. On the other hand, that wind does local firefighters no favors if it just helps push the fire line faster. There may be some relief from the bad air today, but you’ll still want to take it easy.

UPDATE 11:53AM: Carson City and Gardnerville was downgraded to the "unhealthy" category on the Air Quality Index after remaining in the moderate level until around 10 a.m. The "unhealthy" category, in which Carson City was 161 and Gardnerville 162, means everyone may begin to experience health effects, members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
***
Smoke-filled skies continue to grip Carson City and Western Nevada on Wednesday though some of the haze has eased since the first part of the week.

Time marches on. We’ve moved into August, meaning that the end of summer is in sight – even if the temperatures make that hard to believe. You’ll want to continue to take it easy, the smoke from the California fires makes for unhealthy air conditions. Stop by the Carson City Art Gallery this evening for a meet and greet with this month’s featured artist, wood-turner Dave Mills. He will also be demonstrating his craft. Food truck lovers won’t want to miss out on Wheeled Wednesday at the Brewery Arts Center. Let someone else handle the cooking and enjoy some time mingling with your neighbors.

Air quality in Carson City reached an “unhealthy” status Tuesday morning, with a 153 on the Air Quality Index. In Carson Valley, an AQI monitor in Gardnerville registered 129 placing the area in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category.

Smoke from several large wildfires has produced degraded air quality and reduced visibility over Carson City and western Nevada and will likely continue through the week, according to the National Weather Service.

Smoke that has settled into the Carson City area over the weekend from multiple fires burning throughout the Northern California region has resulted in an air quality index (AQI) rating of 89, according to CarsonWeather.com and the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno.

There was neither a fiddle nor a pedal steel on the stage – no props, and for damn sure no country pop.
On a perfect Tahoe summer night, a driving rhythm and a resonating guitar twang set forth “Nobody to Blame.” A baritone voice offered lyrics in a gospel cadence. Through the smoke, underneath the cowboy hat and behind the beard, Chris Stapleton appeared.

Yeah, it’s hot out there, but it’s the area happenings that are sizzling. The Carson City Fair at Fuji Park offers a plethora of entertainment for all ages including tractor pulls, a carnival, and farm animals. Under the shade of the Mills Park cottonwoods, you’ll have all day to peruse the varied vehicles in the annual Run Whatcha Brung Car Show. The sun will come out tomorrow, but it’s the stars that are coming out tonight for the free Levitt Amp Concert at the Brewery Arts Center.

Join Muscle Powered on a continued tour of more Eastside historic sites. Meet in front of the Laxalt Building at 401 N. Carson Street. Wear comfortable shoes for we will be stopping a lot. Water and closed-toe shoes required.

All walks are 1 t.o 2 miles with duration of 1 hour with usually negligible elevation gain, and frequently on paved or smooth paths. If it rains or the air is unhealthy due to smoke meet at the Multi-Purpose Athletic Center (MAC) at 1860 Russell Way. Call Jim Markle at 775-816-5856, if you have any questions.

Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called Tuesday evening to a small HVAC fire at an apartment complex in the 3100 block of Lone Mountain Drive.

A hot and muggy summer continues; at least the rain helps clear the smoke out of the air. Mondays don’t see a lot of variation from week to week, so they are relatively predictable. You’ll always find some toe-tapping old-timey music at A to Zen during lunch. For a swinging-good time, lessons and open dance with the High Sierra Swing Club will get you going. Belt out a few favorites at all-ages Karaoke hosted by the Fox Brewpub. Have a great day, Carson City, and do what you can to beat the heat.

MONDAY, July 23: Things to do in Carson City

UPDATE: 12:57PM: Firefighters on scene have located the source of the smoke, which appears to be coming from an elevator motor. Crews are working to stop the smoke.
***
Carson City Firefighters have responded to an activated fire alarm and smoke investigation call at 400 West King Street in Carson City, across from the Brewery Arts Center and near the corner of Division Street.

According to firefighters on scene, there is considerable smoke coming from the first floor area where the heating and air conditioning units are located.

I have long found it impossible to decide which Carson City event is my favorite: forever waffling between Nevada Day and the Taste of Downtown. Seeing as the annual parade is still months away, I’m going to side with ‘The Taste’ purely for its timeliness. With over forty local eateries participating, multiple raffles at downtown shops, and seven bands rocking every corner of the event, it’s practically impossible to have a bad time. This might be the biggest happening in town, but it’s by no means the only good time: read on for all this weekend’s options.

SATURDAY:

Carson City Fire Department was called Friday afternoon for a report of a trash fire in the area of Highway 50 East near the landfill. The fire has since been contained.

The Carson City Fire Department and multiple fire agencies from around the region are holding firefighting training exercises Friday in the area of South Nevada Street. Smoke will be used as part of the exercise.

Thick smoke from the Ferguson Fire near Yosemite National Park returned Friday to western Nevada and is affecting air quality in Carson City, Carson Valley, Lyon County and the Lake Tahoe Basin, according to the National Weather Service.

Carson City Health and Human Services has been receiving several calls about the impact of the smoke from the Ferguson Fire near Yosemite National Park. The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and Carson City Health and Human Services continue to monitor air quality concerns from smoke drifting into the area from this fire.

UPDATE 3:56PM: According to a battalion chief on scene, forward progress of the fire has stopped, with firefighters having it surrounded. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
***
Douglas County fire crews were called Wednesday afternoon to a brush fire in the Jacks Valley Road area. Carson City fire crews were also called as mutual aid to the fire.

UPDATE 2:58PM: Carson City's air quality worsened Wednesday afternoon to "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" with an Air Quality Index measure now at 115.
Sensitive groups include people with lung disease such as asthma, older adults, children and teenagers, and people who are active outdoors. People who fall in this group should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.

UPDATE: 10:30PM: No flames were found in the house on Monte Rosa Drive Sunday night, but firefighters did find the smoke originated from a furnace fan motor, said Carson City Fire Department Captain Tom Raw, the incident commander.
There were no injuries reported.
***
Carson City Firefighters responded Sunday night around 9:10 p.m. to a structure fire in the 1100 block of Monte Rosa Drive.

Carson City Fire Department was called Thursday afternoon to the area near Silver Saddle Ranch off of Carson River Road for a reported brush fire.

UPDATE: 8:15PM: There appears to be no danger from the smoke detected at the scene and rescue units are being dismissed from the incident.
***
The Carson City Fire Department is on scene of a reported fire at Carson Sunset Apartments, 900 North Saliman Road in Carson City.

UPDATE 5:41PM: Highway 50 is back open in both directions and forward progress has been stopped on the fire at Iron Mountain Boulevard and Broken Arrow Road near Stagecoach, according to the battalion chief. As of 5:28 p.m. the mop up phase was underway. At 5:40 p.m., the chief noted several power poles were damaged due to the fire.
***
UPDATE: Highway 50 was closed in both directions just before 5 p.m. because of the fire burning near Stagecoach off of Iron Mountain Drive. Both eastbound and westbound traffic is being escorted through. Please avoid the area if possible and yield for emergency vehicles. Follow updates from Lyon County dispatch here, KRNV here and Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch here.
***
Central Lyon County firefighters and surrounding agencies were called Friday afternoon to a fast moving brush fire off of Iron Mountain Boulevard and Highway 50 near Stagecoach.

Hello fellow anglers, the weather is great and the fishing is on fire. Speaking of fire, there are some very stringent restrictions to adhere to when venturing out this summer. Campfires are only allowed in designated campgrounds.

Drift smoke from California wildfires has wafted into Carson City and Western Nevada this Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

UPDATE 3:22PM: Both lanes of Highway 50 through Dayton are now open, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol. Firefighters are mopping up the area.
***
UPDATE 3:08PM: Forward progress on the fire in Dayton has stopped, according to Central Lyon County Fire Protection District. The fire burned approximately 10 acres entirely on Dayton State Park property, said the CLCFPD battalion chief. The fire and investigation is now under the command of Nevada Division of Forestry.

The hot and very dry weather will continue through Wednesday around the Carson City region, with stronger winds Monday afternoon as low pressure passes toward the north, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag fire weather warning.

A 48-year-old Carson City man was arrested early Monday in the area of East William and State streets for misdemeanor suspicion of DUI and speeding, a sheriff’s deputy said.

Has your air conditioner ever failed on a hot summer day? It’s a struggle no homeowner wants to deal with. When you own a home it’s important to budget annually for repairs that might be needed and anticipate when things might need to be replaced. If you take care of your home, your appliances and fixtures should last longer. This means keeping them clean, performing regular maintenance and preventing unnecessary wear. Even the most well-kept homes will need repairs at some point and it helps to know how long you should expect your items to last.