Vacant home destroyed by fire

A fire leveled a vacant East Carson City house Tuesday on Edmonds Drive.

Undersheriff Steve Albertsen said the single-wide mobile home with stick-built additions appeared to be abandoned.

"There will be investigators going through this because, for one thing, it is abandoned, and for another, we've had all these fires around here," he said.

Carson City has been plagued by wildland fires this month. Tuesday an arson task force was announced, designed to compare evidence from the 11 area fires to see if they're connected.

Albertsen, one of two task force commanders, said his initial reaction is the latest house fire is not related to the brush fires.

"Unless he's moved on to houses," he said.

Firefighters were called to 1660 Edmonds Drive at the corner of Reeves Street at about 7:13 p.m. When they arrived, the building was fully engulfed. Flames reached 20 feet high, and a power pole caught fire. Despite overgrown brush on the half-acre lot, crews were able to keep the fire contained to the building.

Albertsen said the building did not have gas service, but the electricity may have still be on. The mailbox was stuffed with advertisements addressed to "current resident."

The cause is under investigation.

The property was purchased by Stanton Park Development Inc. in 2003, according to the Carson City assessor records.

n Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.