Shortly after the first unit was enroute, the response was upgraded to a residential fire at 27801 NE 66th Way

CAMAS – Just after 3:30 p.m. Friday (July 5), East County Fire and Rescue (ECFR) was dispatched to a report of a column of smoke near NE Bradford Road and NE 53^rd Street in Camas. Shortly after the first unit was enroute, the response was upgraded to a residential fire at 27801 NE 66th Way.

The-first arriving companies encountered a large, two-story, single-family home well involved in fire. Due to the extent of the fire and potential for structural collapse, a defensive strategy was used to confine the fire to the involved structure, protecting nearby forest land and homes in the wildland urban interface.

Initial response to this incident involved four fire engines, three water tenders, and three command officers from East County Fire and Rescue, Camas-Washougal Fire Department, and Vancouver Fire Department. As the closest fire hydrant with adequate water flow was 6.7 miles away from the incident, an additional water tender was requested from Skamania County Fire District 4. Given the threat to nearby forestland, two wildland firefighting engines and a supervisor were requested from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

In this incident, firefighters had to contend with delayed access to a gated community, advanced fire conditions in a large home, significant vegetation exposures which if involved, would have threatened other nearby homes, significant distance to an adequate water supply point, and spot fires started in nearby vegetation by flying brands. Fortunately, both of ECFR’s fire stations were staffed, providing response of a fire engine and water tender. This, along with effective integration with neighboring agencies and DNR allowed the fire to be controlled while protecting nearby residents and properties. The occupants were not home at the time of the fire and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries.

ECFR asks that residents living in gated communities or private gated property consider providing a means for rapid fire department access in the event of an emergency. Please contact us for information on the “Knox Box” program which provides secure access for faster fire department response.

East County Fire and Rescue

East County Fire and Rescue provides fire and life safety services to roughly 10,500 people over 60 square miles in southeast Clark County north and east of the Cities of Camas and Washougal. We are a combination full-time, part-time, and volunteer-staffed fire district responding to an average of 1,100 calls a year on both sides of the Washougal River.

More information about East County Fire and Rescue can be found at www.ecfr.us. Fire Chief Ed Hartin also welcomes your questions at ehartin@ecfr.us or (360) 834-4908.

Information provided by East County Fire and Rescue.