WINNEMUCCA —The Winnemucca Rural Fire Department had their hands full today (Dec. 10) with a structure fire that refused to go out and two brush fires – all at the same time.

The structure fire was reported before noon in the kitchen of a house located at the Stratus St. – Westmoreland Rd. intersection.

According to Fire Chief Ron Schrempp, the homeowner had her oven on self-cleaning mode when the stove burst into flames.  The fire damaged the stove and cabinets, but the structure itself was saved.

At the time, Schrempp said fires in homes without attics can be challenging to put out because the area between the ceiling and roof smolders and firefighters can’t get at it properly.

He apparently knew what of he spoke because an hour later the WRFD was back at the house when the homeowners noticed smoke rising up from the roof.

While firefighters were there a second call came in from Sant Lane where a homeowner conducting a controlled burn lost control of the fire.  That fire ultimately burned about two acres.

While WRFD firefighters were at the structure fire and the Sant Lane fire, a third fire was called in.  Apparently a homeowner on Rainbow Rd. lost control of his controlled burn, which ultimately burned about an acre.

With resources spread thin, the department made the decision to use the truck they decorated for the Chamber of Commerce Parade of Lights.

And so, at least one fire truck responded to the Rainbow Lane fire decked out for Christmas.

By 3 p.m. all fire trucks were back at the firehouse, refilled with water, and ready to go.