"We have far too wide and long a valley," said Don Davis of the need to better fund Pahrump Fire-Rescue.

In the wake of the blaze that leveled his home, he laid the blame at the doorstep of the Nye County Board of Commissioners for "wasting money on frivolous things like the 'Think-positive program' when the money could have gone to fire fighting apparatus and personnel."

Davis, a veteran firefighter himself, lost two children to a fire 35 years ago in Indiana.

He doesn't blame the firefighters for being tardy in getting to his house, because he said he knows they were busy at another fire, and he understands how understaffed departments work.

But all the same, Davis said, "This will happen more and more, and it needs to stop. Our fire department needs support. Your house could be next."

While Davis is fortunate in having insured his home with an AAA policy, he said he worries that the Pahrump community is skating on sheer luck, risking big, simultaneous fires that might stretch manpower and equipment too thin and end in another tragedy for someone else.

"I want accolades for the fire department," he said. "Even though they were late in getting there, they were on another fire" and couldn't help it.

Davis said he loves Pahrump and will rebuild. "I am highly regarded and loved by a lot of people, so I'm not worried about that. I will survive."

Looking at what was left of two desk-top computers, still smoking among the ashes, Davis said, "Between my family and my friends, I'll be OK."