HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Flames threaten to jump across Buol Road. Medic 2 from Pahrump Valley Fire-Rescue Services is in the foreground. HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT A firefighter from the Bureau of Land Management responds to the fire on Buol and Wilson roads. The crews are highly trained to fight brush and foliage fires. RELATED STORY Shapland loses everything in fire Advertisement

A raging fire consumed the home of long-time Pahrump resident Rusty Shapland on Saturday, June 27.

The flames were fueled by heavy stands of bamboo and old, stored lumber along with propane tanks and gas-powered landscaping tools.

Shapland lost almost everything he owned at the corner of Buol and Wilson roads. However, he was lucky to have a sharp-eyed neighbor who ran into his home and literally got him up from where he had been resting, urged him into his wheelchair and pushed him out of harm's way through the front door.

Marcelino Martinez, whose quick response most likely saved his neighbor's life, ran about 120 yards from his home and business, Marcelino's Healing Arts and Massage, and burst into Shapland's place shouting for him to get out. He said Shapland was stubborn about leaving.

"He didn't want to go. He was concerned about getting his other wheelchair out. But we could feel the heat waves. He had a lot of old, cut lumber and other dried fuel on the property.

"I kept telling him, 'Rusty you have to get out of here', but he said, 'No man, you have to get my van and wheelchair.'"

Martinez finally managed to get Shapland out of his home with the help of Dep. Heather Trumble from the Nye County Sheriff's Office. He also saved one wheelchair accessible van, but the fire was too intense to go back into the home for Shapland's new wheelchair. It was also too late to drive the second van, whose tires had already exploded, to safety. The intense heat also prevented anyone else from getting near the vehicle.

Bystanders were kept about two blocks away from the inferno on Buol Road, but the heat could still be felt. Access on Wilson was also limited. Intermittent explosions of car tires, propane tanks and other combustibles could be heard as the Pahrump Valley Fire-Rescue Services and BLM crews attacked each new area that caught fire.

Water tenders traveled back and forth from the fire to Blagg Road to refill their tanks, allowing firefighters to keep a steady stream of water shooting high over the bamboo barricade surrounding the property onto the flames. Valley Electric crews were also on the scene to turn off the power to the affected area.

The fire was stopped before it reached the home next door on Wilson Road, from which the residents had already been evacuated.

Heavy black smoke billowed high into the afternoon sky, turning white as the flames were doused. However, it was possible to follow the progression of the fire as it jumped from place to place, producing more dark smoke.

In the end, two structures burned to the ground. Along with Shapland's home, a smaller mobile home, that some years ago was used as a gallery to display art, was also lost.

Crews were on scene until after dusk, checking for hot spots.