Blaze on the hillside off the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail forced the evacuation of 12 homes

Firefighters from the Vancouver Fire Department spend Monday afternoon battling a brush fire that forced the temporary evacuation of 12 homes.

On Monday (June 5) at about 2:15 p.m. the Vancouver Fire Department responded to a reported grass/brush fire on a hillside off the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail between NE Andresen Road and NE 86^th Avenue. Several witnesses calling 9-1-1 reported seeing flames approximately 10-feet tall burning uphill through thick vegetation, being driven by strong winds. 

Utilizing a coordinated attack, fire units were deployed from the Burnt Bridge Creek trailhead off NE Andresen Road and began attacking the fire from below. Additional units responded to the uphill side of the fire, to the 8000 block of NE 16^th Street to protect homes and begin attacking the fire from above. 

Firefighting efforts proved difficult due to thick vegetation, steep terrain, and increased fire volatility driven by 20 mph winds. Crews also had to carefully work around several high-voltage overhead lines located directly above the fire.  

It took 17 fire units with approximately 35 firefighters to bring the two-acre fire under control. Firefighting crews with the Washington Department of Natural Resources responded to the scene to assist and a firefighting helicopter was placed on standby but never utilized. 

As a precaution, a total of 12 homes were evacuated to ensure the safety of residents. The evacuation lasted approximately three hours. No injuries were reported. 

The fire is under investigation by the Vancouver Fire Marshal’s Office. 

The Vancouver Fire department was assisted by Washington Department of Natural Resources, Clark Public Utilities, Bonneville Power Administration and Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency.

Information provided by Vancouver Fire Department.