Running events to bring awareness to wildfire

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension is partnering with the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada State Parks and Desert Sky Adventures to put on the Wildfire Awareness Half Marathon and 5K Trail Run.

The May 9 event at Washoe Lake State Park will begin at 8am. Participants will run through some of Nevada’s most infamous wildfire fuels such as big sagebrush, bitterbrush, cheatgrass and rabbitbrush.

The race is part of Nevada Wildfire Awareness Month, a collaborative effort by local, state and federal firefighting agencies, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and others. The event will promote this year’s wildfire awareness message: Improve Your Odds – Prepare for Wildfire.

The event will also raise funds for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to fallen firefighters’ families and to firefighters injured in the line of duty. All proceeds from the $35 entry fee and donations collected during the event will be donated to the foundation. As part of the race event, there will be displays of educational information, fire engines and a visit from Smokey Bear.

To register for the race or for more information about Nevada Wildfire Awareness Month, go online.