Community rallies around fire victim

Within 24 hours of seeing their 5,000-square-foot workshop ravaged by flames, the Alley family of south Gardnerville had dozens of friends and family members helping them through a difficult time.

"I was just broken-hearted. My husband is a mechanic, so I know how much equipment can cost," said Sharon Hielscher, a hair stylist at Velvet Touch Salon in Gardnerville, which is hosting a fundraiser for the family May 15-16.

Located in the Stratton Center at 1532 Highway 395, Velvet Touch Salon will be hosting a hair-a-thon 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 15 and 16.

Cost will be $10 for adults and $5 for children, and all money raised will benefit the Alley family. Hielscher said they're also scheduling a wash-a-thon fundraiser for the same two days.

The fire broke out Thursday afternoon in the structure located off Highway 88, near the intersection with Dressler Lane.

Standing between a historic barn and log house, the workshop housed equipment for the family's welding and repair business, A & B fabrication.

Owner Mike Alley estimated there was $200,000 worth of equipment inside, and the family is now in the process of figuring out what was insured.

For more information about the fundraisers, call Velvet Touch Salon at 783-7613.

On Friday, East Fork Capt. Terry Taylor said a wood stove on the east side of the workshop was the origin of the fire, though the exact cause of ignition may be indeterminable due to water damage.

"The stove could have failed, the stove pipe could have failed," he said, "or the stove could have heated other things around it that ignited."