Gardnerville fire destroys home

Centerville Lane was closed as firefighters battled a house fire on a Gardnerville ranch Tuesday evening.

The fire started at about 4 p.m. in the south end of a doublewide mobile home belonging to Lisa Fricke, daughter of Gardnerville rancher Gordon Fricke.

East Fork Fire & Paramedic Districts Chief Tod Carlini said that by the time firefighters arrived, one-third of the home was ablaze, and the fire was in the attic.

Firefighters aggressively attacked the fire, but Carlini said the fire quickly moved through the attic.

"Attics are made to breathe, which works against putting the fire out," he said. "With the vents, fire in the attic turns into a blow torch."

Parts of the roof were still burning at 6 p.m.

Firefighters had to bring their own water to the fire, as the ranch had no hydrants.

They set up portable tanks in the middle of Centerville and filled them from water tenders.

Carlini estimated about 30 firefighters worked the blaze, with units from Gardnerville, Gardnerville Ranchos, Ruhenstroth, Genoa, Minden and the East Fork Fire District.

Douglas County Sheriff's deputies closed off Centerville at Waterloo Lane and Dresslerville Road.

Carlini said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

No one was injured in fighting the blaze, though one firefighter went through the floor of the building.

The Fricke Ranch is at 1255 Centerville Lane.