Three structure fires keep local crews busy

Two local agencies responded to three separate structure fires on consecutive days.

The first fire occurred early Sunday morning at the Ponderosa Dairy in Amargosa Valley.

Nye County Sheriff’s deputies and crews from Nye County Emergency Services Station 51 responded just after 3 a.m.

Director Vance Payne said upon arrival, crews discovered one of the barns on fire, which is believed to have been caused by fireworks causing moderate damage.

“Apparently there was some old hay outside of a storage building, but right up against it that had burned,” he said. “It was impinging on the side of the building and had the opportunity to spread into stored hay, so it was pretty important to get it put out. There were no injuries reported.”

Late Monday, crews from Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Services were summoned to an occupied home on the south end of town late Monday evening.

No injuries were reported.

“We were dispatched to a report of a structure fire down on Saddletree Road, which is close to station to Station Three on Kellogg Road,” Fire Chief Scott Lewis said. “Upon arrival, crews found fire showing in the interior of the building which then quickly vented through the roof. They performed an interior fire attack and quickly knocked down the fire with no extensions.”

Lewis noted that fire crews were able to contain the blaze to one room in the home.

“It was a room and contents fire with some heat extensions and the cause of the fire is under investigation,” he said. “The occupants came home and discovered the smoke and eventually reported it. There may have been some kind of delayed notification in reporting the fire.”

A third structure fire occurred just after 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, in the 2200 block of Scales Way.

Fire crews also arrived on scene to find a home fully engulfed in flames.

“The occupant was out of the house and located next door,” he said. “That person was medically evaluated but there were no injuries. Because of the extreme fire conditions found, the crews could not go inside the building as it was deemed unsafe. They commenced an exterior fire attack and the fire was placed under control approximately 30 minutes after arrival.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation by Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Services and the deputy state fire marshal.

Lewis said it is also thought to have been a delayed notification for this fire, too.

“It could have been for a number of reasons like they didn’t have a cell phone at the time or they have to find someone to contact the fire department,” he said.