Personnel from Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue battled a large blaze at an outbuilding north of Ridgefield Monday, June 3, which led to investigators finding the body of a woman after the fire.
Melissa Adams, 44, Ridgefield, was found deceased by fire investigators after the fire on Monday, June 3 at 29416 NW 51 Ave., north of Ridgefield proper. Crews were dispatched at 7:03 a.m. to a large outbuilding on fire at the rural property. The first unit on scene arrived at 7:09 a.m. and reported a large barn/outbuilding fully engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to a recreational vehicle and an automobile next to the outbuilding, a release by CCFR stated.
As fire crews were fighting the blaze, they were told by bystanders a person was possibly still inside the building, the release stated. Another resident of the building arrived shortly after firefighters and attempted to enter the burning building but had to be restrained by CCFR personnel.
“The level of fire involvement would have led to certain death of anyone making entry without protective gear,” the release stated. “Due to the level of fire involvement, firefighters sprayed water from the outside. The structure was too damaged by fire for firefighters to make entry.”
Firefighters extinguished the adjacent RV and vehicle fires. In addition, firefighters released several chickens from a chicken coop next to the building ablaze, the release stated.
At 8:19 a.m., an elderly resident of the house on the property was treated for a medical emergency by firefighter/paramedics and was transported to an area hospital.
The fire was mostly knocked down by 8:30 a.m., and fire investigators from the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office entered the area where the victim was thought to be, the release stated.
Fire Investigators then discovered Adams deceased inside the building.
CCFR utilized three water tenders to transport water to the scene from a fire hydrant approximately 1 mile away.
CCFR was assisted by one unit from Clark County Fire District 6, American Medical Response Ambulances, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office and Clark County Public Works. Chaplains from Clark County Chaplaincy assisted family and friends, the release added.
The fire remains under investigation by the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office as of press time.
