Courtesy Virginia City NewsFire crews work to keep the flames that destroyed a Virginia City Highland home from spreading to surrounding houses and wildland Wednesday afternoon. The house on Tybo Road was destroyed.
A fire in the Virginia City Highlands on Wednesday afternoon left a family homeless, including a husband and wife, their two biological children and four foster children.
"They've lost everything," said Chrystal Main, public information officer for the Division of Child and Family Services, which administers the foster family program in rural Nevada.
According to Deny Dotson, spokesman for Storey County, fire crews were called out to 4610 Tybo Road off Lousetown Road about 11:20 a.m. on a report of a fire. When crews arrived, a detached garage was fully engulfed.
High winds, estimated at 30 mph, carried the flames to the two-story house.
Dotson said recent work by the homeowners and the Storey County Fire Department to create defensible space kept the fire from spreading to surrounding properties, but the house was a complete loss.
Dotson said the Red Cross was called out to immediately assist the family.
According to Storey County Assessor Records the home is owned by Bill and Julie Garlick.
Main, of the Division of Child and Family Services, could not identify the family involved, but she was able to confirm the family consisted of the husband and wife and six children ranging in ages from 6 to 16 years old.
The family is without any of their belongings, said Main, and will need help getting back on their feet.
Donations of clothing and gift cards can be sent to DCFS marked specifically for "The Virginia Highlands Foster Family." Main said gift cards are probably the easiest and most useful way to help at this point.
She also said anyone who has temporary housing for the family of eight can contact her directly.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
YOU CAN HELP
Donations for the Garlick Family whose Virginia Highlands home was destroyed in a fire Wednesday can be mailed or dropped off at:
Division of Child and Family Services
4126 Technology Way
Carson City, NV. 89706
ATTN: For the Virginia Highlands Foster Family
Anyone who can provide temporary housing can contact Chrystal Main, spokeswoman for the Division of Child and Family Services, at 775-684-4453.