Four tenants of the Rolling Creek Apartments spent the night at a Red Cross shelter at a local church, and 52 others found lodging with friends, family or in motels after Thursday’s three-alarm fire.
In all 56 people were displaced by the 2:30 p.m. blaze at 7301 N.E. 13th Ave. Twenty of 24 apartments in Building F of the complex were damaged or destroyed, and all were uninhabitable.
The Humane Society for Southwest Washington offered to shelter displaced pets but that was not needed.
The fire apparently started in a bedroom of a ground-floor unit in the middle of the wood-frame building and quickly spread via the attic. It is believed to be accidental, authorities said.
Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway said crews are on scene today digging through the building for their investigation.
“There are no indications that it’s anything other than accidental at this point,” he said.
Dunaway expected it to take a couple days to determine a cause. Anyone with information is asked to call 360-397-2186, ext. 3324.
Two people were transported by AMR ambulance to area hospitals; one person for chest pains and a firefighter with Clark County Fire District 6 was taken to Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital for a minor back injury. That injured firefighter has been released from the hospital and is doing OK, according to a news release.
Fire District 6 was assisted by crews from Vancouver, Clark County Fire & Rescue and Woodland Fire. In total, more than 50 firefighters responded.
It took three hours before the fire was deemed under control, and crews remained on the scene into the night mopping up hot spots.
