Fire tears through home in Salmon Creek area

Fire tore through a large home in Clark County’s Sherwood neighborhood, killing one dog and at least one cat Monday evening.

The blaze was reported just before 6 p.m. by several neighbors who saw flames coming from the windows of 11619 N.E. 36th Court.

When firefighters arrived, the 2998-square-foot home was engulfed in flames, said Battalion Chief Brian Johnson with Fire District 6.

Firefighters with District 6 and the Vancouver Fire Department surrounded the two-story home, which sits at the end of a cul-de-sac, and launched a defensive attack. The structure was heavily damaged and too unstable to send firefighters inside, Johnson said.

The homeowners were not inside at the time of the fire.

Although the blaze primarily damaged the house, fire also burned through the roof of a three-car garage.

Firefighters cut down the garage door to rescue four pets that were inside. A dog and cat died of their injuries, while another dog was resuscitated using an animal resuscitation kit. Johnson said the dog was not doing well and believed the property owner took the dog to animal hospital. A second cat was still missing Monday evening.

A Vancouver firefighter’s wrist was injured while fighting the fire, Johnson said. The firefighter was transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for an X-ray.

Johnson was not sure how many people were displaced by the fire, but said the family who lives there had a place to stay.

County property records list Steve and Gemma Strong as the property owners. They bought the home in 2008.

The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.