Bathroom exhaust fan possibly causes two-story residential fire in Battle Ground

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Investigators believe a second-story bathroom exhaust caused a two-story residential fire in Battle Ground on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

The quick response of firefighters helped lessen the impact of the fire, and Clark County Fire District 3 (CCFD3) stated in a press release, this is another example as to just how critical staffing and having the right resources is when responding.
“Seconds really do matter,” CCFD3 said in the news release.

From initial dispatch time, firefighters arrived within 4 minutes and 8 seconds, fire control was being performed at 5 minutes, and a primary search of the residence was underway at 6 minutes from the time the call went out.

“We appreciate the support of our community through the recent levy lid lift. It will allow us to continue to build on the level of service we are able to provide, including three person minimum staffing and to be able to staff an additional fire station, in addition to much more,” CCFD3 stated in the release. “We are also appreciative of AMR, law enforcement and our surrounding fire agencies that we often work with on incidents such as this.”

Clark County Fire District 3, Vancouver Fire and Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue, along with the Battle Ground Police Department and American Medical Response, were dispatched to the fire call.

CCFD3’s Fire Marshal Chris Drone and fire investigator Dawson Shoup investigated the incident.



“There is no question that the quick response and early decisive actions on this incident is what contributed to this fire not spreading more than it did,” Drone stated in a release by CCFD3. “This had the potential to really become a much larger and even more devastating event for this family during the holiday season”.

During the call, while emergency service units were en route, dispatch advised responders the caller reported a loud explosion and that smoke was coming from the vents and they were trying to get everyone out of the house.

An attack line was pulled to the front door for fire control as firefighters completed a 360-degree scan of the residence. Other responders arrived a short while later and conducted a primary search while first-in crews were working on fire control. Incident command then arrived and requested two additional engines.

Two more engines from Fire District 3 along with battalion chiefs responded with the upgraded alarm.

The response allowed crews to contain the fire, which had started in the upstairs bathroom and was beginning to spread to the rest of the second floor, the release stated. Firefighters continued working for approximately an hour ensuring there was no hidden fire and flames had not extended to the attic other spaces, as well as removed smoke and protected personal belongings, the release added.

Capt. Nolan Meyer said in the release, “When we made our way up to the second floor, there was little to no visibility and the fire was burning through the bathroom door impinging the hallway. Fortunately we had the staffing [three on the ladder truck] not to mention other engines were right behind us, to simultaneously and immediately go to work. By the time I completed the 360, my crew had a line pulled and was already making entry into the house.”