A small fire inside a Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue boathouse on Lake River was knocked down within minutes Monday afternoon, leaving no injuries and sparing both emergency vessels stored inside the structure.
The fire was reported around 2:42 p.m. at 5 West Mill Street on the Ridgefield Marina. Crews from CCFR Station 21, Clark County Fire District 6 and several supporting agencies were dispatched. Units from the Vancouver Fire Department were dispatched and later cancelled before arrival once the fire was under control. The flames were extinguished shortly before 2:53 p.m., according to CCFR.
A city employee near the marina noticed smoke leaving the boathouse and called emergency services, according to CCFR Public Information Officer Airen Elizabeth.
Firefighters found flames concentrated inside the building near a pedestrian entrance on the east side of the boathouse. The cause has not been determined. Two investigators from the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office were on scene Monday evening. The eastern wall and several windows showed visible damage after the fire was contained.
There were two CCFR boats in the building at the time. One was pushed out as a precaution. The second remained inside, determined by first responders to be far enough from the flames. Both were unscathed on Monday afternoon. No one at the marina was injured, according to CCFR.
The cause of the fire was not updated as of press time.
