Camas-area home destroyed by ‘fast moving’ fire

A home in a gated community north of Camas was destroyed last week by what fire officials said was “a fast moving fire” in an area close to forestland.

East County Fire and Rescue (ECFR) crews were dispatched to a report of smoke seen near Northeast Bradford Road and Northeast 53rd Street, about 8 miles north of downtown Camas, around 3:30 p.m. Friday, July 5.

While crews were still on their way to the area, the report upgraded to a residential fire at a home located at 27801 N.E. 66th Way.

“The first arriving companies encountered a large, two-story, single-family home well involved in fire,” ECFR reported in a news release. “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.”

“Fortunately, both of ECFR’s fire stations were staffed, providing response of a fire engine and water tender,” ECFR stated in the news release. “This, along with effective integration with neighboring agencies and (the Department of Natural Resources) allowed the fire to be controlled while protecting nearby residents and properties.”

ECFR said the home’s occupants were not home at the time of the fire, and that no civilians or firefighters were harmed by the fire.

Fighting the fire proved a challenge due to the home’s location and other factors.

Fire officials said firefighters “had to contend with delayed access to a gated community, advanced fire conditions in a large home, significant vegetation exposures … significant distance to an adequate water supply point and sport fires started in nearby vegetation” by flying embers.

The closest fire hydrant with “adequate water flow” was located nearly 7 miles from the home, ECFR reported, so firefighting crews reached out to Skamania County Fire District 4 for an additional water tender. They also requested help from the Department of Natural Resources in the form of two wildland firefighting engines and a supervisor “given the threat to nearby forestland,” the news release stated.

“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,” ECFR added.

Officials with ECFR, which responds to fires and medical emergencies in a 60-square-mile area north and east of the city limits of Camas and Washougal, have asked that residents living in gated communities or in a home with a private gate “consider providing a means for rapid fire department access in the event of an emergency.”

ECFR urged residents in these types of situations to contact the fire district to find out about the “Knox Box” program that provides firefighters with secure access to gates.

For more information about the fire district, visit ecfr.us.