FIREFIGHTERS WERE DISPATCHED to a large house fire at 12409 NE 179th St., Battle Ground, at 1:24 a.m. on Jan. 1. It was determined that the fire was caused by a pan that had cooking oil that was left on the stove and caught fire. Photo courtesy of Dan Yager, Clark County Fire & Rescue.
Two separate house fires over the New Year’s holiday damaged a pair of homes so badly that they were both deemed uninhabitable. No one was injured during either of the fires.
Firefighters were dispatched to a fire at 414 SE Grace Ave., Battle Ground, at 3:31 p.m. on Dec. 30. According to Tim Dawdy, Clark County Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief, when firefighters arrived at the two-story house, they found a bedroom on the first floor that was well involved in fire. Dawdy said firefighters made a fast and aggressive attack on the fire and were able to keep it confined to the bedroom, but there was still significant smoke damage to the second floor and the first floor of the home.
The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the cause of the fire and determined that the blaze was caused by a candle that was left unattended in the bedroom.
“Candles are very dangerous,” Dawdy said. “We urge people to use the new LED flame-less candles. They look the same, they’re very safe and they can prevent a tragedy.”
The fire displaced the family of nine - three adults and six children - who were living in the home. The American Red Cross Cascades Region is assisting the family and has provided food and clothing, comfort kits and information about disaster mental health and disaster health services.
Dawdy said there was only one working smoke detector in the 3,000-square-foot, two-story house and he stressed that one working smoke detector in a home that size is not adequate. He encourages anyone who might need help getting and installing smoke detectors to contact Clark County Fire & Rescue at (360) 887-4609.
According to Clark County Property Records, the home is owned by Alice and Jerry Daniels.
Firefighters were dispatched to the second large house fire in the area at 12409 NE 179th St., Battle Ground, at 1:24 a.m. on Jan. 1, after a neighbor who was coming home from a New Year’s Eve celebration saw the fire from the road and drove down the driveway. Dawdy said the neighbor couldn’t even get close to the burning home because the fire was so involved and so hot.
Around the same time, a Clark County Sheriff’s deputy who was on duty also saw the home on fire and called 9-1-1. Personnel from Clark County Fire & Rescue, Clark County Fire District 3 and the Vancouver Fire Department responded.
Upon their arrival, Dawdy said firefighters found the home very involved, with flames coming out of the second-story roof. Firefighters made an aggressive attack and were able to get the blaze under control in about 45 minutes. The fire caused extensive damage to the house, but the homeowners were not on the scene, so there were no injuries.
The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the cause of the fire and determined it was caused by a pan that had cooking oil that was left on the stove and caught fire.
“The lesson here is never leave anything on the stove for any reason,” Dawdy said. “Take everything off and make sure everything is turned off before you leave the house.”
According to Clark County Property Records, the home is owned by Elena Borbely.
