An apartment fire in Woodland damaged seven units in the building, though no one was injured, Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue reported.
CCFR was dispatched to the fire at 1370 Woodside St. shortly before 10 p.m. on April 5.
Shortly thereafter, the first of three fire engines and a ladder truck arrived on scene to find a ground floor apartment “fully involved” in flames. The fire had also extended to a second-floor apartment above, according to CCFR.
First responders called for additional response upon arriving at the scene, CCFR reported. Firefighters were able to get the fires on both floors under control within 20 minutes.
Although one person was initially unaccounted for, CCFR found no one inside of the building and that person eventually arrived at the scene, the department reported.
The department noted firefighters could hear fire alarms as they eliminated hotspots, and those who initially called to report the fire could also hear the alarms. The callers peered out of their peephole and saw smoke and flames coming from the unit across the hallway.
“Working smoke alarms are one of the best ways to be alerted to the danger of a fire. Tonight, multiple people are safe because they heard an alarm and got out of the building,” CCFR Chief John Nohr said.
The old apartment building was not constructed with a fire sprinkler system, CCFR stated. New buildings currently require a fire sprinkler system because of modern fire codes.
Two units in the building were “severely damaged” by the fire, while another five units sustained damage from the heat and smoke, CCFR reported. Five adults and one child were displaced by the blaze. No injuries were reported.
The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office, with help from the Clark-Cowlitz Fire Marshal’s Office, is investigating the fire.
CCFR was assisted by Clark County Fire District 6, the Vancouver Fire Department, Cowlitz County Fire District 1 and the Woodland Police Department.
In total, 40 personnel responded to the fire.
