Five people have been displaced after a house fire in rural La Center presumably claimed the lives of multiple pets.
At 8:09 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue and Clark County Fire District 10 were dispatched to a residential structure fire at 5605 NE 384th St. in Clark County.
The reporting party, retired Vancouver Fire Department Battalion Chief Frank Mazna, said he saw a house on fire across a field.
Mazna activated 911 and provided responding units with an initial size-up of the scene conditions and helped guide the incoming units so they could access the scene, stated a news release from CCFR.
Engine 23 from Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue arrived at 8:19 p.m. from the La Center fire station to an approximately 5,000-square-foot, two-story residential structure that was fully-involved in fire. The engine stretched a handline to control the fire’s extension to surrounding exposures, stated the release.
Battalion Chief 21 arrived and dispatched additional water tenders to the scene to assist with water supply. Mutual aid units from Clark County Fire District 10 also responded.
Defensive fire streams helped bring the fully-involved fire under control. Firefighters spent the next couple of hours extinguishing hot spots and overhauling the area. They were able to limit the fire’s extension to surrounding structures and prevented additional property damage, stated the release.
Two adults and three children were displaced by the fire. Two dogs and two cats were unaccounted for and presumed lost in the fire, stated the release. First responders helped retrieve multiple rabbits from an enclosure outside of the structure and gave them to the homeowner on the scene.
No people were injured during the incident.
“Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue would like to acknowledge the volunteer water tender response from both our department and Clark County Fire District 10,” stated the release. “Given the rural location of this incident, the size of the structure, and the significant initial fire conditions — multiple water tenders were needed to meet the fire control water demand.”
CCFR utilizes support volunteers to respond with water tenders when needed in an effort to offset career staffing and free up additional personnel for other on-scene operations, stated the release.
“Five water tenders is a significant response for an incident, and both our and Clark County Fire District 10’s volunteers did an amazing job in establishing and maintaining a constant water supply throughout the entire incident,” stated the release.
The fire is under investigation by the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office. The cause has not been determined.
CCFR was assisted by responders from Clark County Fire District 10, North County EMS, American Medical Response, the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Resources included four fire engines, one ladder truck, four chief officers, one fire investigator, five water tenders, one AMR ambulance and 28 total personnel.
“Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue reminds citizens that working smoke alarms are critical equipment and should be maintained and replaced after 10 years,” stated the release. “If looking to build a new home, please consider installing a fire sprinkler system.”
For more information on home safety, contact CCFR.
