Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office identifies two deceased males

VANCOUVER – The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the two males who died in a fire on June 25 in Vancouver. The identifications were made on July 18.

Christopher Berg, a 55-year-old Vancouver resident, died of multiple gunshots. Henry Oates Jr., 74, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head with a handgun.

Investigators are continuing an investigation into the apartment fire early on the Saturday morning in Vancouver.

On Saturday (June 25) at about 12:28 a.m., 9-1-1 received multiple calls regarding gunshots coming from a four-plex in the 2900 block of East 16^th Street. As officers were enroute, callers reported smoke and flames coming from one of the units. 

Officers arrived and evacuated the neighboring units and assisted with road closure and scene protection as the Vancouver Fire Department extinguished the fire. This was a two-alarm fire that involved 25 firefighters including an engine from Clark County Fire District 6. It took approximately 30 minutes to control the fire. 

Upon entering, emergency personnel located two deceased males inside the unit where the fire occurred. There were no additional reported injuries as a result of the fire. All residents of the four-plex were displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross. 

Investigators from the Vancouver Police Department Major Crimes Team and Vancouver Police Arson Team are continuing the investigation. Investigators from the Washington State Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting to process the scene. 

Nothing further is releasable at this time. 

Information provided by Vancouver Police Department.