Fire determined to be arson destroys Dayton home

Lyon County authorities are investigating a fire that destroyed a Dayton home Wednesday evening.

Chuck Ritter, fire investigator for the Central Lyon County Fire District, said the fire is being investigated as a case of arson.

"It was definitely an arson fire," he said. "We've determined that."

Because the fire is a potential criminal case, Ritter declined to give too many details.

The call came in at 8:12 p.m. He said it was controlled within 30 minutes but that the wooden portions of the house on Douglas Street were completely burned. The other part of the old home, which a neighbor estimated at 60 years old, was made of concrete.

Victoria Pradere, who lives across the street, said the home was completely engulfed in flames in a matter of minutes.

She said she saw no flames when she went to water her back yard, but when she turned around just a couple of minutes later, "here was this building on fire like I couldn't believe."

"If I hadn't seen it, I'd have never believed a fire could go that fast," she said. "It was just a matter of moments."

Pradere, a lifelong resident of Dayton, said the building was originally a "Milk House" but was expanded into a residence decades ago.

Ritter said it is his understanding the residents were not there when the fire started.

Two Central Lyon engines and a brush rig responded along with an engine from Storey County. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.

He said he is receiving help with the investigation from Carson City fire investigators.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.