Two people displaced by attic fire at Vancouver duplex

A fire in the attic of a VanMall neighborhood duplex displaced two people Wednesday night.

Firefighters responded to 9104 N.E. 54th St. at about 11 p.m. to find a fully involved fire in the attic of the duplex, said Vancouver Fire Department EMS Officer Jay Getsfrid.

Crews knocked down the blaze in 20 minutes, but stayed on scene for about three hours to put out hot spots.

“(Attic fires) are notoriously difficult to put out,” Getsfrid said. “They’re in a concealed space … and the fire hides up in there in the insulation.”

The fire started on the outside of a unit that was unoccupied, but two people who lived in the adjacent unit were displaced, fire officials said.

Vancouver Lead Deputy Fire Marshal Chris Drone said that the damage to the structure and contents is an estimated $45,000. The cause is still under investigation.