Carson-Highlands Storage

Contents of unpaid self-storage units to be sold in bluk by the unit. This is a single level facility. All units are ground level for asset removal.

The NEVADA APPEAL June 28th

Scorched around the edges, it's business as usual - Business managers and owners clean up Tuesday morning after a stressful night

Ash and debris fell on several northeast Carson City and Mound House businesses Monday night, but many said that was the worst they got of the 5,000-acre blaze that scorched right up to property lines.

Just a little way down the street is Carson Highlands Storage, managed by Bev Cumley, who was still jittery after a night of confusion. She lives at the 10010 Highway 50 East site.

"My boss told me to take the PC and the cash and to pack three to four sets of clothing," she said after opening the office at 9 a.m. "It got us right to our fence. We were lucky. I was so scared. I didn't know what to do. I headed to Dayton, but I don't know why I went there because there's no motels there. So I called my boss and she advised me to go up through Virginia City and come around. So I called my friend who lives near the college and she said I didn't even need to ask if I could stay with her."

Since opening the office, Cumley's phone has been ringing incessantly. She's taken a few calls, but said she can't handle talking to everyone right now. She cupped her hands over her face and fought back tears.

"And I don't know how to get the computer started again," Cumley said.

Skip Parker, of Carson City, moved his Roamer pop-up camper out of Carson Highlands on Monday night and returned it Tuesday morning.

"It was hard to tell exactly where the fire was at because of the ash and smoke. You could tell it was somewhere on the other side of the hill," he said, while pointing to a small hill north of the 750-unit complex.

The $23 million Harley-Davidson Financial Services office building was far enough away to be out of danger, yet provide an impressive view of billowing smoke and an advancing fire line.

"From what fire crews have told us, with the golf course there, we're in such a place with our building that we're not in danger," said Donal Hummer Jr., Harley-Davidson Financial Services community and government affairs vice president.

Several hundred feet of noncombustible landscaping surrounds the 100,000-square-foot building on Technology Way, off Arrowhead Drive. Many industrial buildings on the drive had close encounters with the approaching flames.

Some employees watched the plume of smoke from the large back window on the third floor.

"I'd rather have this than hurricanes," said Kim Carrubba, manager of community and government affairs, while looking out the back window at the smoke in the distance.

Eagle Valley Golf Course had several players still on the course as the fire ate away at the cheatgrass on the hills behind them.

"We had golfers golfing until about 6 p.m., then we had to evacuate," said head professional Josh Fitzgerald. "We had no damage. Just to the sagebrush."

He said the fire got within 300 yards of the green on the east side of the course, and within one mile of the green on the west side.

The fire did not jump to the south side of Highway 50 East, where Pick-N-Pull is located near the county line.

"There's too much asphalt in front of us, we're not going to burn," said manager Norma Bartoli. "At least I hope not."