Virginia City Highlands wildfire evacuation drill June 14

Residents of the Virginia City Highlands in Storey County are being asked to be ready for a wildfire evacuation drill at 7:30 a.m. June 14.

“The drill is designed to test evacuation readiness in this high-risk wildfire zone and to help local responders evaluate coordination and communication systems,” the county said in a news release.

What makes the Virginia City Highlands such a risk for wildfire?

“The Virginia City Highlands is a rural, high-elevation residential community northeast of Virginia City,” Storey County Public Relations Officer Julia Moreno-Fritz said. “It features steep terrain, dense vegetation, and limited access routes, which makes it particularly vulnerable to fast-moving wildfires.”

The area has about 1,600 residents and sits within the wildland-urban interface, Moreno-Fritz said. This means homes “are directly adjacent to or intermixed with wildland vegetation.”

“This combination of fuel, topography, and one-way-in-one-way-out road access creates a high-risk environment in terms of evacuation and emergency response,” Moreno-Fritz said. “This evacuation drill is part of Storey County’s broader effort to ensure residents in fire-prone areas know how to respond, and that public safety teams can evaluate traffic flow, communication systems, and mutual aid coordination in real time.”

All Storey residents are being encouraged to sign up for Smart911 alerts, the county’s emergency notification system, at smart911.com/smart911/ref/reg.action?pa=storeycounty.

At 7:30 a.m. on June 14, residents of the Virginia City Highlands can expect to receive a Smart911 alert by text, phone call and/or email instructing them to evacuate. Residents should be prepared to leave with their to-go bag as if responding to a real wildfire, officials said. However, pets and livestock do not need to be included in the drill.

“The evacuation route will be communicated the morning of the drill, and residents will be directed to a staging area with local safety resources,” the news release said.

Storey County Sheriff Mike Cullen added, “We want residents to take it seriously, but also remember it’s a practice run so everyone can learn what to do.”

On the day of the drill, the sheriff’s office will be patrolling the area using a megaphone system.

“County officials are asking residents to let their neighbors know about the drill, especially those who may not be active on social media or who may not have access to online updates,” the news release said. “At the town hall, residents asked about home security during the drill. The sheriff’s office assured residents that deputies will patrol the area, secure access points, and verify IDs of anyone entering.”

According to Storey County Emergency Manager Adam Wilson, evacuation alert levels are:

• Level 1 – Be Ready: Prepare to evacuate; have a plan and to-go bag ready; assist people with special needs.

• Level 2 – Be Set: High danger in the area; follow evacuation plan.

• Level 3 – GO NOW: Imminent danger; leave immediately without delay.

Households with residents unable to evacuate due to illness or mobility issues can contact Storey County Health & Community Services at 775-847-0957 and make arrangements.

Besides signing up for Smart911 alerts, residents can review the wildfire evacuation checklist at storeycounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/8389/Citizen-Evacuation-Checklist-PDF?bidId=.

To verify contact information in the emergency system, or for information in general, reach out to Storey County Emergency Management at 775-847-3577 or go to storeycounty.org/297/Emergency-Management.