Firefighters stretched hose lines to extinguish the fire but a steady source of water supply was an issue during the initial phases of the incident

At 9:15 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 5), the Vancouver Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire near the 5500 block of 199th Ave. Due to the remote area of the home it took firefighters nearly 10 minutes to arrive on scene. 

Responding crews stated they could see a plume of smoke from miles away. First-arriving crews found a garage fully engulfed in flames that was spreading to the second floor. Firefighters stretched hose lines to extinguish the fire but a steady source of water supply was an issue during the initial phases of the incident. 

Crews from East County Fire and Rescue and Clark County Fire District 3 were able to supply the Vancouver Fire pumping apparatus with sufficient water using their large water tenders.  

Firefighters from the Camas-Washougal Fire Department also assisted the VFD. In total, there were nine fire engines, one ladder truck, three battalion chiefs, and three water tenders operating at the fire scene with a total of about 36 firefighters. It took over 30 minutes for the fire to be extinguished. 

The Vancouver Fire Department chaplain, Pastor Pete Schrater, responded to the scene and assisted the homeowner along with the American Red Cross. There were no injuries reported. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Clark County Fire Marshal’s office. 

Information provided by Vancouver Fire Department.