In partnership with Storey County, the Division of Forestry provides wildland fire protection throughout the county. The Division has two Type 3 engines, one Type 6 engine, and a water tender co-located at Storey County Fire Department stations in Virginia City, Virginia City Highlands, Six Mile, and Lockwood. These are staffed primarily during the fire season.

The Division’s firefighters provide a full range of fire management assistance including; fire prevention, public fire safety education, hazardous fuels management, fire suppression, and fire rehabilitation. A primary focus of the fuels management efforts is the Virginia City Highlands, a large, rural residential area, nestled among the pinyon-junipers.

Storey County is primarily a rural county with rugged terrain, covered with pinyon-juniper woodlands, and sagebrush. Virginia City, the county seat, along with Gold Hill, is a National Historic Site.

Historic fires in Storey County

• Gooseberry Mine  33,000 acres 1985
• Lockwood 15,500 acres 1999
• Olinghouse 6,841 acres 2006
• Six Mile #2  1,733 acres 2006