Two adults and three children safely escaped, with minor injuries reported by the homeowner

Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue (CCFR) responded at 3:09 a.m. Tuesday (July 16)  to a residential structure fire at 2255 South 29th Court in Ridgefield. The homeowner reported waking up to the sound of glass breaking in the office area and discovered heavy fire conditions on the exterior and underneath the office area of the residence.

Truck 21 arrived at 3:19 a.m. after a 10-minute response time due to the distance from the nearest fire station. The unit’s crew initiated a “quick hit” fire attack while establishing a water supply and called for additional resources.

Battalion 21 assumed command of the incident upon arrival. Truck 1 continued with the initial offensive fire attack and conducted a primary search, confirming that all occupants were out. Portions of the roof began to collapse, and it was determined that the fire conditions were defensive, with fire extension noted in the attic. Crews then transitioned to a defensive fire attack, which meant fighting the fire from outside the structure.

Two adults and three children safely escaped, with minor injuries reported by the homeowner. Three cats were unaccounted for at the time of the fire attack. The affected parties are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue commends the homeowners for their quick action in recognizing the hazardous condition and evacuating their family, ensuring their safety and enabling responding crews to focus on fire suppression.

Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue would like to remind citizens that working smoke alarms are critical equipment and should be maintained yearly and replaced after 10 years. If you are looking to build a new home, please consider installing a fire sprinkler system. Contact us for more information on home fire safety.

Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue is proposing a fire levy lid lift on the Aug. 6 Primary Election ballot. Portions of the $0.24 per $1000 lid lift levy would be used to fund the construction of a new fire station in south Ridgefield. CCFR  currently owns property for a fire station one-half mile from today’s fire. This new station would significantly reduce response times for our apparatus in this area, enhancing the safety and service for the community.

About Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue

Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue (CCFR) serves 50,000 people over 125 square miles, including the cities of La Center, Ridgefield, Woodland, and the Cowlitz Indian Reservation. Its combination department includes full-time and volunteer firefighters responding to an average of 5400 fire and emergency medical calls a year. CCFR also provides a wide array of Community Risk Reduction programs including fire inspections, building plan reviews, and a Community Paramedic program. CCFR operates under a balanced budget and has a history of passing independent financial audits by the state.

Information provided by Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue.