An under-construction house in Camas sustained minor damage after a small explosion late Thursday evening, according to the Camas-Washougal Fire Department.
A painting contractor was working on the 4300-square foot house nearing the final stages of construction Thursday night.
The contractor was spraying flammable liquids, but had forgotten to turn off the gas fired water heater, according to the fire agency. An explosion created a fireball that engulfed the mechanical room where the water heater was located and spread to a large downstairs family room.
A single sprinkler head activated closes to the explosion and extinguished the fire.
The paint contractor was not injured and shut off the water before calling the home builder. The fire agency wasn’t notified at the time of the incident because the home builder felt the fire had been extinguished.
A deputy fire marshal with the agency went to the scene on Friday to investigate and determined the damage to the structure to be less than $10,000.
